Third Da Vinci Code being prepped before release of Angels and Demons?

While fans await the May 15th Columbia Pictures’ release of Ron Howard’s Angels and Demons, Variety reports the studio is already working on the third pic in the franchise. Author Dan Brown announced that his next installment in the Da Vinci Code series will be The Lost Symbol, which Doubleday will publish on September 15, 2009, with a print run of 5 million copies.

Sources say Brown has completed his manuscript. Sony holds screen rights to the Robert Langdon character, and by all accounts will negotiate a deal for the new title, based on the success of the Da Vinci Code.