ROTTEN TOMATOES: Goldsman Signs On for "Angels & Demons"

Goldsman Signs On for "Angels & Demons"

by Scott Weinberg | May 23, 2006

Yesterday we shared the news that the "Da Vinci Code" prequel was being discussed, and today comes word that screenwriter Akiva Goldsman will definitely be returning. (We can only hope he read some of the "Da Vinci" reviews.) No word yet on Ron Howard or Tom Hanks, but you just know they'll be back. Well, Hanks, anyway.

From Variety: "Striking while the iron is sizzling, Sony has signed "The Da Vinci Code" scribe Akiva Goldsman to adapt author Dan Brown's first religious thriller, "Angels & Demons." "Code" grossed $231.8 million worldwide in its first five days.

In "Angels," Langdon's character tries to solve a murder and unravel a plot by an ancient group, the Illuminati, to blow up the Vatican during a papal conclave. Sony acquired the feature rights to "Angels" as part of its 2003 deal with Brown for "The Da Vinci Code."

Akiva Goldsman's earlier screenplays include "A Time to Kill," "Batman & Robin," "Lost in Space," "A Beautiful Mind," and "Cinderella Man."

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(1-16 of 16 posts) | Reply

El Capitan writes:
on May 23 2006 02:50 AM

[b]Dan Brown and the Church[/b]
A mystery thriller about artwork containing secret messages which could lead to unraveling a religious cover up.
Almost offensive
A mystery thriller about a shadowy group, plotting to blow up the Vacitan for no aparent reason.
Now thats just crossing the line

It seems Dan Brown has something against the Roman Catholic Church.

(Reply to this)

vader_of_vjun writes:
on May 23 2006 03:19 AM

Actually, I thought that Angels and Demons was a far superior read to Da Vinci.

(Reply to this)

mforss1756 writes:
on May 23 2006 03:34 AM

In reply to this comment (#836414)
I agree, Angels and Demons was great, I just hope they make good adjustments compared to the Code movie and that Hanks cuts his hair!

(Reply to this)

jeremyd4 writes:
on May 23 2006 06:07 AM

"It seems Dan Brown has something against the Roman Catholic Church"

......and so do a lot of people, but hey, they deserve it.

Also, it does seem that an overwhelming number of people have been saying A&D is the better book so I guess/hope things can only get better from here.

(Reply to this)

Zen Bullet writes:
on May 23 2006 07:05 AM

I was one of the few who read Angels and Demons first. It's my favorite book of the two as well. And while I'll acknowledge a languid pace regarding the DaVinci film, I certainly didn't witness any evidence of it being as bad as critics painted it.

Angels and Demons will be far more cinematic, though . . . the action better integrated into the plot. AND for those who thought DaVinci was anticlamatic(a point I need some help understanding) . . . the prequel's climax hasn't even a glimmer of "fizzling".

Out of curiosity, does Angels and Demons have to be a prequel now?

(Reply to this)

themaninthebox writes:
on May 23 2006 11:06 AM

[b]angels and demons superior[/b]
first off, the fact that the vatican was being targeted to be destroyed was not offensive, not nearly as "offensive" as refuting the divinity of jesus christ is....

but anyway, the story in angels and demons is much tighter, less fluff and flab hanging around too. this book lends itself much better to a film adaptation, because it was much more action oriented.

i also read angels and demons first and could not put the thing down. da vinci felt derivative in comparison and i didnt get the same feeling of "i gotta keep going" as i did with A&D.

My only worries are whether it will translate to the big screen, and not seem to many who saw DaVinci code as too similar....and maybe they can get someone else to play Langdon

(Reply to this)

dracus writes:
on May 23 2006 02:01 PM

[b]Not Again![/b]
I haven't read or seen The Da Vinci Code yet, but to be honest I'm so burned out over all the hype that I really could care less if I ever do, no matter how good or bad the book and movie may be. Now we have to go through it all again so soon with Angels and Demons. Enough already!

(Reply to this)

santyclaus writes:
on May 23 2006 02:18 PM

In reply to this comment (#836413)
apparently dan brown is actually a pretty devout catholic... but anyway

angels and demons is a lame book compared to the code, but i think it will make a better movie...
that's assuming that goldsman can cover up all the gaps in logic and character motivation...
oh, plus the climax reads like something out of mission:impossible: III. cool? yes. requiring me to throw any common sense out the window? yes. does it matter? apparently not.

(Reply to this)

Robert Fuller writes:
on May 23 2006 06:02 PM

I agree with santyclaus. I really don't get why so many people prefer Angels and Demons, when the plot is even sillier and more contrived than The Da Vinci Code, and it doesn't even benefit from an intriguing philosophy or historical theory. And plus it drove me nuts how the plot often hinges on Langdon not knowing certain information that he really should, given who he is and his line of work.

(Reply to this)

haelohm writes:
on May 23 2006 06:49 PM

[b]A&D[/b]
Angels and Demons is better in my opinion. Its not nearly as far fetched and it will translate better to screen. I loved the Da Vinci Code book and movie, but i think Ill like this one better, just like i like the book better.

(Reply to this)

El Capitan writes:
on May 24 2006 02:15 AM

[b]Misconceptions[/b]
I will confess that Angels and Demons had more thrills than Da Vinci Code. However. Angels and Demons was full of mistakes and was not that great a novel(Digital Fortress and Deception Point were plain at best).
Oh, santyclaus. Dan Brown does not specifiy how devout a catholic he is. He's also commented against traditional orthodoxy of christianity. These are views Mr. Brown has expressed himself.

Now I leave you good folks with some mistakes Angels and Demons made.
*According to Brown, Galileo Galilei founded the Illuminati in order to spread scientific knowledge that the Church attempted to suppress. In reality, there is no evidence to suggest that Galileo was associated with any of the incarnations of the Illuminati (the most famous, the Bavarian Illuminati, was founded more than a century after his death).

*The book states that Christians came to know about 'god-eating' from the Aztecs. However, Christianity is at least 1900 years old, and Christians and Aztecs did not come into contact until 1519. There are early Christian and Roman references to the Communion.

*The Hassassin reminisces about the Crusaders attacking his people, "defiling their temples and gods." Actually, the Hassassins were Muslims, hence monotheists

(Reply to this)

El Capitan writes:
on May 24 2006 03:33 AM

In reply to this comment (#836419)
[b]Agree and Disagree[/b]
What I was eluding to, is how Dan Brown is seen by many as Anti-Catholic. Their by making this prequel into film, which in the novel depicts a fictional Pope having produced a child through artificial insemination. That would appear to many that Dan has an affinity for depicting the Church as slightly deceptive and sinister. Also, the Holy See plays a significant part for over 1 billion people of the Catholic Church. Comparing some masonic like group attempting to destroy the Vatican and the fictitious nature of the Da Vinci plot. Wouldn't you see the conclusion that I've tried to illustrate. Mainly I was trying to poke fun on the general assumptions made about the author. He actually is a religious person, though he admits other things which mislead people at times.
I agree on whats more offensive with you. The part about making a good movie based on the source material is a joke.

(Reply to this)

adml_shake writes:
on May 24 2006 06:12 AM

In reply to this comment (#836414)
Green eggs and hame was a better book than The Da Vinci Code.

(Reply to this)

lostcause writes:
on May 24 2006 01:17 PM

Question: will the Vatican be hunky-dory with on-location filming? It's not like the movie would portray them in a less then positive light or anything. My guess: a CG Vatican.

(Reply to this)

killermonkey82 writes:
on May 25 2006 06:55 PM

i liked "the da vinci code" and i think if they make an angels and demons movie it will be even better cuz i heard that was an ever better book

(Reply to this)

Captain JoBob writes:
on Sep 30 2008 04:27 PM

ok have you people even read the book??!! nobody is trying to blow up the vatican, the camerlengo is trying to restore faith in the world by presenting a danger and then having "god" save them from that danger

(Reply to this)

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