Inferno bumps the Robert Langdon film series up to a trilogy, as the symbologist is again swept up in a globetrotting mystery. While not as controversial as the series’ previous entries, The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons, the film stills deals heavily with Catholic mythology, this time centering on Dante’s Inferno and its formative influence on the modern idea of hell.
It’s not surprising that the series, taken from books of the same name by Dan Brown, have such enduring popularity. The Catholic Church is an old and powerful institution with its thumbprint on almost all of western society. When anything is that powerful, it’s human nature to want to see it taken down a peg. Brown’s thrillers play fast and loose with facts about the church to maximize intrigue, making for a thrilling story that feels just a bit naughty.
All three installments of the film series boasts the acting and directing duo of Tom Hanks and Ron Howard, whose collaborations dates back to the 1984 hit Splash. With Apollo 13 also in the mix, the pair have a proven track record of pleasing audiences.
Joining them as Langdon’s constantly changing female sidekick is Felicity Jones, playing a doctor helping him recover from amnesia. The twist of having Langdon doubt his own mind, which is his main tool for solving mysteries, should change the dynamics of the story just enough to keep things interesting. With everything else feeling so familiar, expect Inferno to fit right in with the rest of the stimulating series.
Inferno is directed by Ron Howard and stars Tom Hanks, Felicity Jones, and Ben Foster. It will be released in the U.K. on October 14th, 2016 and in the U.S. on October 28th, 2016. For international release dates, click here.
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