Acclaimed 2004 science fiction work by David Mitchell made into a 2012 film

CLOUDATLAS

Think of a novel and film where interconnected stories span centuries, from ships to futuristic dystopias.

This clue points to Cloud Atlas, a well-known 2004 novel by David Mitchell that blends multiple storylines across time. The mention of the 2012 film adaptation (directed by the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer) confirms the title, as both the book and movie share the same name. The answer is written as one word, "CLOUDATLAS," which is how it often appears in crosswords to fit the grid. No wordplay here—just a direct reference to a famous sci-fi work.