Even though Ron Howard has just put the finishing touches on his latest directorial endeavor entitled Frost/Nixon, he is not taking any time off. According to Variety, he is jumping head first into production on The Da Vinci Code sequel Angels and Demons.

Based on the Dan Brown book of the same name, the story follows Harvard-based expert on religious symbols Robert Langdon as he gets entangled in a mystery that involves a secret society. He undcovers a conspiracy that leads to Vatican City and threatens the future of the Catholic Church.

Howard, Producer Brian Grazer, and writer Akiva Goldsman are working overtime, attempting to get the script in shooting form before the potential writers' strike that is supposed to happen next month. Tom Hanks is in talks to reprise his role from the first film.

Columbia has already set a February start date for the project, which will be shooting in Europe. The film will be released within the year, opening around Christmas time.

Angels & Demons was released May 15th, 2009 and stars Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, Stellan Skarsgård, Pierfrancesco Favino, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Thure Lindhardt. The film is directed by Ron Howard.