The 51-year-old will feature in the movie alongside Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, and Susan Sarandon - as well as British stars Jim Sturgess, Jim Broadbent, and Ben Whishaw - in the big-screen adaptation of David Mitchell's novel, which was shortlisted for the 2004 Man Booker Prize.
The unconventionally structured novel of interlinking narratives tells the story of one soul through six separate existences over several centuries.
The flick is being directed by Wachowski brothers Andy and Larry and Tom Tykwer.
Filming for Cloud Atlas is scheduled to begin in Glasgow next month, and will also shoot on location in Germany and Spain.
It's due to be released in October 2012.