Hanks gets his Angel

Move over Naomi Watts and make room for Ayelet Zurer. Entertainment Weekly is reporting the Israeli born actress (perhaps most famous in the US for her role in MUNICH) has signed on to play Vittoria Vetra in the DA VINCI CODE sequel ANGELS AND DEMONS. Zurer beat out Naomi Watts and a number of other A-list actresses who were interested in the role. Zurer will star alongside Tom Hanks in the film which was retrofitted to become a sequel (the Dan Brown novel actually takes place before the events in THE DA VINCI CODE). If it gives you any indication into the substance of ANGELS AND DEMONS, I read it about two years ago and can’t remember a lick about it (other than it features words that can be read the same way upside down). But a quick Google search reminds me it has to do with a plot to destroy Vatican City with antimatter. ANGELS was one of the first high-profile projects to be delayed because of the writers strike last year. Pre-production is now well underway with filming set to begin this June. Sony has already locked up a May 15, 2009 release for the film. Ron Howard will return to direct with a script by Akiva Goldman.