LatinoReview recently spoke to John Calley who is credited as producer on the much anticipated film adaptation of "The DaVinci Code" and discussed a variety of aspects in regards to turning Dan Brown's bestseller into a megamovie hit. "The way it worked was I got a call from Ron Howard's agent asking if we would be interested in Ron to direct it, and of course we would" said Calley who is also very happy with Akiva Goldsman's screenplay - "It's very hard to describe it, but he somehow is able to compress it. All the salient stuff is there, but it's not as long. But if it works the first time, I'd like to do the full version in four or five days. I'm kidding".
Meanwhile, what about the concern over Tom Hanks taking the lead role of Robert Langdon: "I think that it depends upon how he's rendered. Obviously, Ron Howard isn't going to say, "He's wrong but he means something at the box office." Because forgive me, in the best possible way, we don't need a big gross star because I don't think The Da Vinci Code has to be supported by an actor's name. It has to be well done. My sense is that if Ron feels that that's the way he can do it, then he should do it that way. I don't think he's deliberately trying to overcast the part just so that he can get a celebrity's name on the title."
Location wise, Calley thinks that the production will be able to shoot at The Louvre for the film's opening scenes. "We can certainly shoot exteriors, and we might want to build the interior aspects of the Louvre that we need because we want walls to come out to be able to shoot." Calley expects filming to begin in June or July.
In related news, Julie Delpy talked with The Boston Globe about the possibility of her playing the role of Parisian cryptologist Sophie Neveu: "I'm praying, but we'll see. You never know until there is a solid cast, but I am going to meet them. I don't know what their idea for it is, or if I am right for it. The character is French, in her 30s and has a shade of red in her hair. I can become a redhead". Delpy is expected to sit down with Howard and producer Brian Grazer to talk about the part.
Thanks to 'Kellvin'.
