That is right ladies and gents. Writer Steven Knight, screenwriter of the amazing “Eastern Promises”, has been hired to pen the adaptation of Dan Brown’s “The Lost Symbol”. Is this really a surprise to anyone? I didn’t think so. Is it a good thing? NO! I really have a hard time understanding the phenomenon that is Dan Brown. “The Da Vinci Code” was a fun, thought provoking page turner, but its translation to the screen is simply appalling. The film breaks a huge thematic rule, in my mind anyway. In which the protagonist has no affect on the things happening around him. He just watches them happen. The same goes for “Angels and Demons”.

As for Tom Hanks in these films; he is simply unlikable as Robert Langdon. This is strange considering Tom Hanks is one of the most likable men in Hollywood. What the hell? Maybe Ron Howard isn’t the right choice for the material, or maybe the material just isn’t right for the screen. Or maybe… it’s just bad material. So since “The Lost Symbol” is happening, lets hope Steven Knight can inject it with a little creative jump start. Please make us care about these predicaments. See if Robert Langdon can become more than just a one dimensional professor of a course that doesn’t exist at the college he is teaching. If these things can be accomplished, I may be in line for a Dan Brown adaptation once again. Damn it!