HOWARD AND MCKELLEN COMMEND HANKS

The long anticipated film The Da Vinci Code has arrived. Based on the controversial best-seller by Dan Brown and directed by Ron Howard a religious mystery t…

Da Vinci Code director Ron Howard knew exactly what he was doing when he cast Tom Hanks to play professor Robert Langdon. Ron says having worked with Tom before in Apollo 13, he knew Hanks had the intelligence to back the character’s smarts and the team spirit to bring to the film.

Ian McKellen who plays Hanks friend Sir Leigh Teabing agrees with Howard’s high opinion. McKellen says Tom was perfect for the role of Robert Langdon, as he possesses the same welcoming qualities.

“Tom loved the book and he had smart things to say about the adaptation and I also knew that in casting Tom I’d be taking on a really intelligent, really helpful collaborator. Not just in terms of creating the character of Robert Langdon but in getting this movie to the screen. And I love those kinds of collaborations. I really thrive on them. I covet them and I wasn’t disappointed with Tom. We had that on Apollo 13 and we had it again with Da Vinci Code and it was really a pleasure.”

“Tom Hanks has not only got the friendly disposition of someone who you want to succeed, so you want him to find out what he’s trying to get at. But he radiates an intelligence which is very appropriate for an academic professor. And as a gallant gentleman which is appropriate as he’s charged with looking after the Audrey Tautou character. And he can play all that to perfection.”rnrn