Tom Tykwer, the German director of Run Lola Run and Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, has brazenly attached himself to the story that "features six main characters, and spans thousands of years and several genres." Even more absurd than the premise is the caliber of star he has attracted: Tom Hanks, James McAvoy, Halle Berry and Natalie Portman. Ian McKellen has also shown interest in the story, but since there is no fixed timeline for production, it seems as if he may drop out of the project.