Angels & Demons

The Pope dies, and Camerlengo Patrick McKenna runs the Vatican during the conclave. At CERN, someone steals a sample of antimatter, and the four leading cardinals are kidnapped by someone claiming to speak for the Illuminati: one will die every hour, and at midnight the antimatter will blow. Langdon and scientist Vittoria Vetra follow the Path of Illumination through Rome's churches. Three cardinals die, but Langdon saves Baggia at Piazza Navona. McKenna flies the antimatter up in a helicopter and jumps before it explodes. Hidden cameras show he planned it all to become pope. Exposed, McKenna takes his own life. Baggia becomes Pope Luke, and Langdon is handed Galileo's book.

1. CameoThe director's dad at the conclave

   Cardinal Beck is Rance Howard, Ron Howard's father. He shows up in many of his son's films.

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2. Behind the scenesRome built in Culver City

   The Church barred filming inside its churches. St. Peter's Square and Piazza Navona were built on Sony's lot in California, and the basilica's interior was finished digitally.

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3. ReferenceA theme carried over from Da Vinci

   Hans Zimmer built Langdon's theme from the closing track of The Da Vinci Code score. Violinist Joshua Bell plays on the new one.

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4. ReferenceThe Vatican remembers the Priory

   The film nods to what Langdon did in The Da Vinci Code: the Priory of Sion case is why the Vatican seeks him out. The book can't do that, since Angels & Demons came out first.

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