Howard Banned From Filming in Catholic Churches

Da Vinci Code director Ron Howard had to shoot the movie's forthcoming prequel using imitations of the Catholic churches in the storyline - after the Vatican banned him from all of its holy buildings.

The first movie's portrayal of the Catholic church angered the religion's heads, who were in no mood to cooperate when Howard headed to Rome, Italy this year (08) to shoot an adaptation of author Dan Brown's 2000 book Angels & Demons, which is set in the Vatican City.

As a result, Howard has been forced to used camera trickery and substitute locations.

He reveals, "We've had problems filming in Catholic Churches. We just weren't allowed anywhere near them."

Meanwhile in seperate news the former Happy Days star Ron Howard hated reprising his most famous acting roles for a pro-Barack Obama video - and he can't wait to have it pulled from the Internet now the presidential race is over.

Howard rolled back the years to play Opie Taylor, from the Andy Griffiths show, and act alongside Henry Winkler as Richie Cunningham in Happy Days, in a video urging Americans to choose Obama over his Republican rival John McCain.

Now the Democrat has secured his place in the White House, Howard admits he is itching to take the promo off the net.