According to Variety, Tom Hanks will once again portray religious art scholar Robert Langdon in Angels & Demons, the prequel to Dan Brown’s vastly popular novel, The Da Vinci Code.

In this film, Langdon becomes entangled with the Catholic Church and a powerful underground organization known as the Illuminati.

Variety also reports that Ewan McGregor is currently in talks to join the film as a Vatican insider who comes to Langdon’s aid. Israeli actress Ayelet Zurer (Munich) has already signed to play the female lead opposite Hanks as Italian scientist Vittoria Vetra.

Ron Howard is directing the Columbia Pictures film from a script by Akiva Goldman, who also adapted The Da Vinci Code for film.