Bettany joins cast of Da Vinci Code

Paul Bettany

British actor Paul Bettany, who starred in Wimbledon and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, is joining the star cast of the religious thriller The Da Vinci Code to be directed by Oscar-winning Ron Howard.

Bettany will play the albino zealot Silas and will join Tom Hanks, Jean Reno, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen and Alfred Molina in the thriller.

The adaptation of Dan Brown's bestseller is to start filming next month for release date next May.