今週の一面

◇Sherlock Hanks

Tom Hanks is back as Robert Langdon, the religious sleuth and central character in "The Da Vinci Code."

This time around, in the sequel film "Angels and Demons," Langdon is urgently called to Rome where he must unravel the meanings behind secret codes left behind by a ruthless kidnapper.

"I think he's a timeless character, sort of like Sherlock Holmes or some of the great detectives of all time, an intellectual Indiana Jones without a whip. I hope I get the chance to play him five times, but I'd have to take that up with Mr. Dan Brown and (director) Mr. Ron Howard," said Hanks, 52, speaking at an event in Tokyo on May 7 to promote "Angels and Demons."

The movie, based on a bestselling novel by Dan Brown, follows on from 2006's "The Da Vinci Code."

As a Harvard University professor of religious iconography and symbology, Langdon must track down the kidnapper, who holds four cardinals who were candidates to become the next pope. Then there's the Illuminati, a secret religious society that possesses a weapon of mass destruction.

"(Langdon) has to use all of his agnostic expertise in order to crack the crime and potentially play a major role in the election of a new pope," Hanks explained.

Helping him in the job is Vittoria Vetra, played by the Israel‐born actress Ayelet Zurer, a scientist who specializes in anti‐matter, which the weapon uses as ammunition.

At the news conference, Zurer, 39, described her experience on the movie set as "fantastic." "I had a great time, something I'll take to the grave. It's something I never dreamed would happen," she said.

(Story by Hosoda Naoko and Geoff Botting)

毎日ウィークリー2009年5月23日号