'Da Vinci Code' sequel set for early release

(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-10-26 16:16

With the strike called by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) looming, Columbia Pictures is seeking to finalize the shooting script for 'Angels and Demons'.

Ron Howard is directing the prequel to "The Da Vinci Code" also written by Dan Brown.

The movie is scheduled for a December 2008 release.

But before that there is a lot of work to be done, especially for Howard who will be shoot "Angels and Demons" as he supervises editing and post-production on the screen adaptation of the Peter Morgan play "Frost/Nixon," reports Variety.

'Angels and Demons' will see Tom Hanks reprising his role as Robert Langdon.

The Harvard-based expert on religious symbols will this time be put to the test on a mystery that involves a secret society and a conspiracy that leads to Vatican City and threatens the future of the Catholic Church.

TV and movie writers in Hollywood have overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike.

The union says it wants a new contract that stipulates writers being able to keep up with the financial success of the industry.

One of the key issues dividing producers and writers is compensation for DVD sales and productions that are distributed on the Internet.

The last writers strike in 1998 lasted 22 weeks and cost the industry an estimated 500 million dollars.