THE LOST SYMBOL could be Directed by Mark Romanek

It looks like Sony Pictures may have found a new director to take on the adaptation of Dan Brown's latest Robert Langdon adventure The Lost Symbol. Ron Howard directed the first two films The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, but decided not to come back for a third round. I don't blame him, the films were fun, but definitely not his best work. He will however serve as a producer on the film along side his Imagine Entertainment partner Brian Grazer.

The studio has been on the hunt for a director to take Howard's place and it looks like Mark Romanek (One Hour Photo, Never Let me Go) has emerged as the studios top choice. He's also directed a ton of great music videos. According to Deadline negotiations between the director and studio should begin soon. Romanek is a solid director that has made a couple very well made feature films, and I think a movie like this would be a great project for him.

Of course Tom Hanks is expected to reprise his role as Robert Langdon, but as of right now he's not committed. He will next star in the Paul Greengrass directed film A Captain’s Duty, as the heroic captain Richard Phillips who was involved with those Somali pirates. Brown worked on the script for The Lost Symbol, as did Steven Knight.

What do you think about Romanek taking on the challenge of directing this film?

Here's the book description:

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 that finds famed symbologist Robert Langdonin 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 is an intelligent, lightning-paced story with surprises at every turn.  This is Dan Brown’s most exciting novel yet.