Sony Pictures said Friday it is postponing production on Angels & Demons, the prequel to last year’s megahit The Da Vinci Code starring Tom Hanks.
According to Variety, “Da Vinci Code” screenwriter Akiva Goldsman’s script was rushed to meet the WGA’s Nov. 1 deadline for reaching a new contract with producers, and came in with insurmountable problems. Furthermore, no cast had signed on beyond Hanks.
The Vatican-set thriller was scheduled to begin shooting in February, with Ron Howard at the helm. The studio had set a Christmas 2008 release date.
“While the filmmakers and the studio feel the screenplay is very strong, we do not believe it is the fully realized production draft required of this ambitious project,” a Sony spokesperson said. “At this time, there is no new start date for ‘Angels & Demons,’ but we are setting a release date of May 15, 2009, and are hopeful to deliver the movie worldwide to theaters on that date. We do not expect any other film on our 2008 slate to be affected.”
