Well, if the Wachowski Siblings ever wash out of the movies, they can always turn to knitwear. Their inimitable line of deconstructed post-Apocalyptic Steampunk sweaters, wraps and bodysuits made a big impression in its debut—1999’s The Matrix—and continues strong in their brand new Cloud Atlas collection. Fans will find the irregularly rustic stitches, bold asymmetry, and moody hand-dyed Neo-Gothic palette they love, cast in intriguing new shapes. Tom Hanks’ hooded cape and Susan Sarandon’s stone- and macrame-ornamented dress with matching fingerless wristlets are particularly arresting.

Which is to say that Art Direction is as important in the epic, sweeping, wildly ambitious Cloud Atlas as it has always been in the Wachowski oeuvre, as obsessively thorough and as effectively world-making. The movie is based on a 2004 novel of the same name by David Mitchell, a book so bulky and complex it took several years for the movie’s three directors—the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer of Run Lola Run—to work out the script and logistics.

After watching this five-minute long trailer the question still lingers, what is Cloud Atlas? We do know that it is the new film from co-directors Lana & Andy Wachowski and Tom Tykwer, and it is based on the novel by David Mitchell. Other than that, the whole thing still seems undefined, unless of course you read the book.

Mayhaps the official synopsis can help shed some light on the this very interesting looking new film:

“Cloud Atlas” explores how the actions and consequences of individual lives impact one another throughout the past, the present and the future. Action, mystery and romance weave dramatically through the story as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero and a single act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution in the distant future.

So it is sort of like The Fountain, but just much more broad in scope, and make no mistake, the trailer promises some incredible scope. We mentioned yesterday when discussing the Life of Pi trailer that 2012 is shaping up to be an incredible year. Having a film like this blind side us the very next day seems to cement that point.

Check out the absolutely stunning trailer after the jump, and you can find out for yourself exactly what Cloud Atlas is October 26th.