LA Weekly and DeadlineHollywoodDaily.com (http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com) are reporting that Akiva Goldsman ("A Beautiful Mind," "The Da Vinci Code") is receiving $4 million dollars to pen a screenplay based on Dan Brown's "Angels and Demons" novel. This novel is the first to use the character of Robert Langdon, who was played by Tom Hanks in "The Da Vinci Code."

Goldsman will be screenwriter and producer for the film, which is being targeted for December 12, 2008. No word on whether director Ron Howard or star Tom Hanks will return for the prequel.

"Angels and Demons" has professor Robert Langdon investigating a series of murders which lead to the Vatican and the Illuminati society.