Angels and Demons is the prequel to the 2006 film The Da Vinci Code, and is an adaptation of the novel Angels and Demons, written by Dan Brown. The film is directed by Ron Howard and stars Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor and Ayelet Zurer.

While filming the movie, director Ron Howard accused Vatican officials of hampering production. According to Howard, they did not allow him to film inside any of properties in The Vatican and put up other roadblocks causing production delays. Howard went on to say the Catholic church has opposed the book and film from the start, but officials have declined special screenings offered to them in an effort to change their minds.Reuters: Angels & Demons Director Sees Vatican Meddling (May 3, 2009)

Harvard professor Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) discovers the existence of an ancient society called the Illuminati. He sets out to find them using the Path of Illumination before The Vatican is destroyed while in conclave to elect a new pope. Langdon is aided in his quest by the granddaughter of a slain physicist (Ayelet Zurer).

• Tom Hanks as Professor Robert Langdon
• Ewan McGregor as Carlo Ventresca
• Ayelet Zurer as Vittoria Vetra
• Pierfrancesco Favino as Commander Olivetti
• Stellan Skarsgård as Richter
• David Pasquesi as Vincenzi
• Cosimo Fusco as Father Simeon
• Allen Dula as a Vatican Policeman