Ayelet Zurer was locked in yesterday as the female lead, now Ewan McGregor is in talks to play a key character in Sony Pictures "The Da Vinci Code" prequel "Angels and Demons" says the trades.

Based on the Dan Brown novel, "Angels" sees Hanks reprising his role as symbologist professor Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) who tries to solve a murder and unravel a plot by the most powerful underground organization in history, the Illuminati, to wipe out Vatican City in a massive explosion during a papal conclave.

McGregor will play Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca, also known as Janus, the late pope's closest aide who initially helps Langdon in the investigation. During a conclave (which can go for hours or days), the camerlengo is a young impartial priest who serves as the 'defacto pope' whilst the cardinals are locked in St. Peter's Basilica to decide the next Pope.

Akiva Goldsman adapted the book, Ron Howard will direct and shooting is set to begin in June in Europe before heading to Los Angeles.