Ewan McGregor is in talks to square off against Tom Hanks in "Angels & Demons," the prequel to the worldwide smash "The Da Vinci Code."

Hanks reprises his role as symbologist professor Robert Langdon who tries to solve a murder and unravel a plot by an ancient group, the Illuminati, to blow up the Vatican 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.

Ayelet Zurer ("Munich") also is on board the production, playing Langdon's sidekick, a woman who is trying to uncover the mystery of her father's murder.

Shooting is set to begin in June in Europe before heading to Los Angeles. Ron Howard directs the Columbia Films project from Akiva Goldsman's adaptation of the Dan Brown book.