Tautou To Play 'Da Vinci' Role?

French film star Audrey Tautou is thrilled she's won the lead role in the upcoming film adaptation of US author Dan Brown's best-selling thriller The Da Vinci Code. The popular Amelie star, who is currently on screens in A Very Long Engagement, will play Sophie Neveu - the young French cryptologist assisting Professor Robert Langdon - played by Tom Hanks - in his investigation. The Professional actor Jean Reno will also star, playing detective Bezu Fache. Filming is due to start later this year - with a predicted cinema release of May 2006.

France to Filmmakers: The Louvre Is Not a Movie Set

A French official indicated Friday that the film version of The Da Vinci Code, in which numerous key scenes take place in the Louvre museum in Paris could "in principle" be shot at the museum itself, but only if the shooting takes place at night or on Tuesdays when it is closed to the public. Museum director Henri Loyrette, appearing on France-Inter Radio remarked that "The Louvre is not a movie set. It is a place that receives an average of 20,000 visitors a day." The implication of his remarks was that the filmmakers could receive permission to film at the museum provided that they not interfere with normal access to its galleries by visitors.

Albinos Want To White-Out Killer from 'Da Vinci' Script

An organization representing albinos has registered its opposition to portraying a killer in the film version of The Da Vinci Code as an albino (which is the way he is represented in the Dan Brown novel). "[Producer/director] Ron Howard and Imagine [Films Entertainment, which is producing the movie] can make a big difference for people with albinism by continuing the trend away from a hack device if they adjust the Silas character to not be an evil albino" said Mike McGowan, president of the National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH). "Over the years the stereotyping and misinformation foisted on the albinism community by filmmakers who don't take the time to learn the facts about albinism does real harm to real people," he added.

Movie Bosses Warned To Accurately Portray Albinism

Movie director Ron Howard is being advised to tread carefully when filming the movie adaptation of novel The Da Vinci Code this year, by not permitting albino stereotypes. The National Organization For Albinism And Hypopigmentation (NOAH) has asked film bosses to make sure the upcoming movie doesn't portray its albino character as a red-eyed psychopath. NOAH president Mike McGowan says, "One huge problem with (author Dan Brown's book) The Da Vinci Code is how (the character of) Silas is described with red eyes. That's a myth. Most often in people with albinism the eyes are light blue or even hazel. Ron Howard can make a big difference for people with albinism by continuing the trend away from a hack device if they adjust the Silas character to not be an evil albino. Over the years the stereotyping and misinformation foisted on the albinism community by film-makers does real harm to real people." Tom Hanks has signed up to star in The Da Vinci Code, which is slated for a mid-2006 release.