Ron Howard is a brilliant man. He is both a brilliant tv producer and filmmaker. He is also a brilliant negotiator. His latest feat, together with his casting team, is in signing on Amelie French actress Audrey Tautou to co-star with the award-winning American actor Tom Hanks in 'Da Vinci Code'. The upcoming movie, scheduled to be released in May 2006, is based on the best-selling thriller "The Da Vinci Code" by master mystery writer Dan Brown.

The world fell in love with French actress Audrey Tautou when she starred in Jean-Pierre Jeunet's hugely popular 2001 romantic fable "Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain".

Da Vinci Code will be Tautou's seventeenth performance on the big screen.

Howard has signed her on to play the female lead heroine, Sophie Neveu.

Neveu is Brown's gifted young, French cryptographer who assists Professor Robert Langdon in solving the mystery of her grandfather's murder.

Langdon, a famed Harvard symbologist, is the hero of the story, who will be played by the great Tom Hanks.

Neveu and Langdon join in a race to solve the murder of Neveu's grandfather, an elderly member of an ancient society that has protected dark secrets since the early years of Christianity.

While we have a difficult time imagining Hanks in this role, he has surprised us before in movies like Saving Private Ryan.

The Da Vinci Code detective, Bezu Fache will be played by Jean Reno (Godzilla's Philippe Roache - 1998 and the upcoming Pink Panther's Ponton - 2005).

U.S. director Ron Howard has been charged with the film adaptation of the novel, which has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide.

The actor turned film and television producer / director of award-winning tv shows like Arrested Development and 24 and movies such as A Beautiful Mind starring Russell Crowe, Apollo 13 starring Tom Hanks, Backdraft starring Kurt Russell and Nightshift starring Henry Winkler will have his hands full over the next two years.

Howard is also involved in the making of the animated film Curious George starring Will Ferrell. Ferrell will lend his voice as The Man with the Yellow Hat.

Perhaps Ron can use Audrey in this film, as well.

Before Tautou decided to pursue acting as a career she planned to become a primatologist. Her childhood interest in monkeys would have taken her down this path until she began acting in school. Her success on stage first led to an award-winning French television career before Jean-Pierre Jeunet cast her in Amelie.

Since her international success with Amelie Tautou has been hailed as the heiress to Audrey Hepburn.

For other films starring Audrey Tautou, please go to:

Da Vinci Code is due for release on May 19, 2006, in the United States and France.

Columbia/Sony Pictures has budgeted around $100-million to produce the film.

Sony Pictures paid $6 million for the rights to Brown's book after 24 creator, Joel Surnow came up with the idea to make "The Da Vinci Code" the theme for Jack Bauer's third season. Brown was not interested in turning his book, which as of this month has sold over 4.5 million copies, into a television show.

However, after Ron Howard's partner, Brian Grazer was hired onto the project as a producer, Brown turned over the rights to Sony. And the rest will be history...

Howard, Crowe, Grazer & Goldsman on The "Beautiful Mind" Set

Photo Credit: Eli Reed

Howard, Grazer and Akiva Goldsman, the Oscar-winning triumvirate from A Beautiful Mind will once again come together to create Da Vinci Code. Ron Howard will direct the film. Brian Grazer will produce it. And Akiva Goldsman is working on the script.

Tom Hanks

Other French actresses considered for the role of Sophie Neveu included Vanessa Paradis, Sandrine Bonnaire, Judith Godreche, Sophie Marceau, Juliette Binoche and Linda Hardy.

Tautou, who calls Meryl Streep, Paul Newman, Juliette Lewis, Jodie Foster, and Julianne Moore her idols will likely add the great Tom Hanks to her list after filming Da Vinci Code throughout France, England and much of the history of Christianity.

As The New York Times' Harlan Coban said about the book, we hope Ron Howard, Grazer and Goldsman's adaptation onto the big screen will appeal in a similar fashion to "history buffs, conspiracy nuts, puzzle lovers or anyone who appreciates a great, riveting story."

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