One of the very few films remaining in 2012 that I can say I'm genuinely looking forward to seeing… Warner Bros has set a release date for for Cloud Atlas – the adaptation of David Mitchell’s epic labrynth of a novel co-directed by Tom Tykwer, Lana Wachowski and Andy Wachowski, and starring Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Susan Sarandon, Keith David, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Doona Bae, Ben Wishaw, James D’Arcy and Zhou Xun.

The film, which was screened to foreign buyers at the Cannes Film Festival last month, and was said to be very well received, will be released on October 26.

"Audiences who have seen an early screening of Cloud Atlas have been elated by its powerful and inspiring story, as well as its breathtaking visuals. An October release in North America is the perfect window to showcase this epic film," said the WB's president of domestic distribution.

And I'll bet its release is perfectly timed for Awards consderation.

The film has already sold to the following territories, so S&A readers in these countries should have an opportunity to eventually see the film: the U.K., France, Spain, Australia, Japan, Germany, Austria, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, S. Korea Korea, Taiwan, Russia and Eastern Europe.

With October really just about 4 months away, I expect we'll be getting our first look via a teaser/trailer for Cloud Atlas shortly – if not by the end of this week, now that the release date has been set.

Given how challenging the book was to read, I'm really looking forward to seeing what this trio has done with material that was deemed by some as unfilmmable!