VARIETY reports Israeli actress Ayelet Zurer will portray Italian scientist Vittoria Vetra in Columbia Pictures' DA VINCI CODE prequel ANGELS & DEMONS.
Tom Hanks will reprise his role as religious art scholar Robert Langdon. Vetra becomes entangled with Langdon as they attempt to sort through a mystery surrounding two groups with powerful and ancient roots: the Illuminati, the most powerful underground organization in history, and the Catholic Church.
Ron Howard will be back to direct the prequel from an Akiva Goldsman script.
Zurer is best known in Israel for her roles in NINA's TRAGEDIES and TV series IN TREATMENT, but has starred in the U.S. in films like MUNICH and Columbia's VANTAGE POINT. She will be in the upcoming Samuel Goldwyn release FUGITIVE PIECES.
ANGELS & DEMONS is set for a May 15, 2009 release.
