The Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer add Hugh Grant to the cast of Cloud Atlas

Quick, what was the last film Hugh Grant starred in? If you somehow forgot 2009's Did You Hear About the Morgans?, then I don't blame you since nobody saw that dreadful comedy where he starred alongside a horse. Oh...that's Sarah Jessica Parker? Easy mistake. Actually, Hugh Grant hasn't been doing much but making dreadful comedies for years now, with his off screen behavior far surpassing the worth he's brought to theaters of late. Love Actually was eight years ago, folks. It's been quite the dry spell.  It looks like Grant may be making the jump into his first serious film in nearly a decade(About a Boy counts as serious, right?), as Screen Daily reports he's just been added to the cast of Cloud Atlas, directed by The Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer(Run Lola Run).

What role he'll play is upin the air, but considering what we learned recently about every member of the cast playing multiple roles including opposing genders, that shouldn't come as a surprise. The film is an adaptation of David Mitchell's time hopping sci-fi novel, telling six nested stories spanning from the 19th century all the way into a far flung future dystopia. Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Sturgess, Ben Whishaw, Susan Sarandon, Bae Doona, and Jim Broadbent are set to star.

One of the reasons I think we've seen a little less of Grant lately is that younger actors who have sorta the same style and look have been cropping up. Two of those actors are in this film in Whishaw and Sturgess.

Filming kicks off soon, with a release date targeted for late 2012, possibly October.