Columbia Bringing Robert Langdon Novel “The Lost Symbol” To Theaters

Dan Brown’s third novel featuring character Robert Langdon, The Lost Symbol, is going to be made into a feature film. Tom Hanks will most likely be reprising the role of symbologist Robert Langdon, but has not yet committed to the film. No word on if Ron Howard will be back as well to direct. Steven Knight will be adapting the recent book, and Brian Grazer and John Calley will be producing.

Here is the synopsis for the novel:

In this stunning follow-up to the global phenomenon The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown demonstrates once again why he is the world’s most popular thriller writer. The Lost Symbol is a masterstroke of storytelling — a deadly race through a real-world labyrinth of codes, secrets, and unseen truths . . . all under the watchful eye of Brown’s most terrifying villain to date. Set within the hidden chambers, tunnels, and temples of Washington, D.C., The Lost Symbol accelerates through a startling landscape toward an unthinkable finale.

As the story opens, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned unexpectedly to deliver an evening lecture in the U.S. Capitol Building. Within minutes of his arrival, however, the night takes a bizarre turn. A disturbing object — artfully encoded with five symbols — is discovered in the Capitol Building. Langdon recognizes the object as an ancient invitation . . . one meant to usher its recipient into a long-lost world of esoteric wisdom.

When Langdon’s beloved mentor, Peter Solomon — a prominent Mason and philanthropist — is brutally kidnapped, Langdon realizes his only hope of saving Peter is to accept this mystical invitation and follow wherever it leads him. Langdon is instantly plunged into a clandestine world of Masonic secrets, hidden history, and never-before-seen locations — all of which seem to be dragging him toward a single, inconceivable truth.

As the world discovered in The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, Dan Brown’s novels are brilliant tapestries of veiled histories, arcane symbols, and enigmatic codes. In this new novel, he again challenges readers with an intelligent, lightning-paced story that offers surprises at every turn. The Lost Symbol is exactly what Brown’s fans have been waiting for . . . his most thrilling novel yet.

The current films in the series have been huge successes overseas, but have not reached the same heights in North America. Angels & Demons has grossed $486 million world wide, with over 70% of the gross being from the foreign take. The Da Vinci Code brought in over $758 million world wide, also with over 70% of its take coming from foreign grosses. It will be interesting to see if the trend continues.