Earlier today, Rome’s diocese said it has barred the producers of Angels & Demons from shooting in two churches for the film.

Producers of the movie (directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks) were turned down because the movie “does not conform to our views,” said Monsignor Marco Fibbi, a spokesman for the diocese.

The crew had asked to film in the churches of Santa Maria del Popolo and Santa Maria della Vittoria, two architectural jewels in the heart of Rome that include paintings by Caravaggio, sculptures by Bernini and a chapel designed by Raphael.

“It’s a film that treats religious issues in a way that contrasts with common religious sentiment,” Fibbi told The Associated Press about the prequel to The Da Vinci Code. “We would be helping them create a work that might well be beautiful but that does not conform to our views.”

Yesterday, we reported that Israeli actress Ayelet Zurer had landed the female lead opposite Tom Hanks in Angels & Demons. Now, we’ve discovered that Ewan McGregor is in talks to also join the film.

In the prequel to The Da Vinci Code, McGregor would take on the role of a powerful Vatican insider who assists Hanks’ Robert Langdon.

The story centers on religious art scholar, who once again finds himself entangled with powerful forces with ancient roots: the Illuminati - the most powerful underground organization in history - and the Catholic Church.

McGregor is currently starring in Deception.

Ayelet Zurer has landed the role of Vittoria Vetra in the upcoming Da Vinci Code prequel Angels & Demons.

Sources close to the project told Entertainment Weekly that the Israeli actress (who played Eric Bana’s wife in Munich and was last seen in Vantage Point) has been cast opposite Tom Hanks in the Ron Howard-directed movie. Reportedly, she beat out major stars, such as Naomi Watts, for the role.

For those unfamiliar with the book, the character of Vittoria Vetra is the daughter of CERN physicist Leonardo Vetra. Following her father’s death, Vittoria pairs with Robert Langdon (Hanks) on a journey to uncover the mystery behind her father’s murder and stop a terrorist plot.

Angels & Demons set to begin filming in Europe in June, eyeing a May 15, 2009, release date.

As Tom Hanks prepare to grow his hair all weird again to portray Robert Langdon, a rumor is going around that a certain beauty from Down Under will be joining the actor on Angels & Demons.

According to the New York Post, Naomi Watts has landed a starring role in the flick opposite Hanks, which will once again be directed by Ron Howard.

An insider said production has been put off “until at least February,” though, meaning the film will rrive in theaters at some point in 2009 (it was originally scheduled for release on December 19, 2008).

Angels & Demons, which was also written by Dan Brown, is a prequel to The Da Vinci Code. The book once again follows Langdon (Hanks) as he races against time to find a hidden bomb and hunt down a serial killer in Rome.

Sony Pictures has set a February 2008 start date for production on Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code sequel. It’s slated to hit theaters in December 2008.

With a writers’ strike on the horizon, this is an example of a quick deal-making decision made in order to get a film made before any work stoppage.

Tom Hanks will reprising his role as religious conspiracy investigator Robert Langdon, while director Ron Howard, screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, and producer Brian Grazer are all back for the second movie adapted from Dan Brown’s mystery novels. Casting is now underway.

Although The Da Vinci Code grossed a relatively disappointing $217.5 million domestically in 2006, it was gigantic overseas, where it banked a jaw-dropping $540.7 million.

Due to the success of that film, Sony gave the go-ahead to Angels & Demons, which Brown had actually written before 2003’s The Da Vinci Code became an runaway bestseller.