From the ArcaMax Publishing, Entertainment News Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/entertainmenttoday/s-364498-729597
TAORMINA, Italy (UPI) -- The Vatican said it will not allow filming of
the new religious-themed mystery thriller "Angels & Demons" inside any
of Rome's churches.
The Hollywood Reporter said the production, which stars Tom Hanks and
is being helmed by U.S. director Ron Howard, has also been banned from
entering the Holy See, the tiny city-state that includes St. Peter's
Basilica, a key location in the Dan Brown book that inspired the
movie.
"Angels" is the follow-up to the controversial 2006 blockbuster "The
Da Vinci Code," which is also based on a religious-themed mystery
novel penned by Brown.
Sony officially requested permission to film the second movie in Santa
Maria del Popolo and Santa Maria della Vittoria after the Vatican
denied the production permission to shoot at St. Peter's, the
entertainment industry trade paper said. However, those requests
reportedly were also denied by the Vatican
"Traditionally, we read the script, but in this case that was not
necessary," Father Marco Fibbi, spokesman for the Diocese of Rome,
told The Hollywood Reporter. "The name Dan Brown was enough."
The film crew will still have access to open areas in Rome as long as
they are not on Vatican grounds, Variety said.