Tom Hanks cracks Da Vinci Code

Tom Hanks is a favourite actor to many. Think about 'Cast Away' and many others and now 'The Da Vinci Code.'

In the fictional novel The Da Vinci Code, this controversial subject is fused together with the legend of the Holy Grail.

The result? The ultimate conspiracy theory, and an instant global phenomenon.

The Da Vinci Code premieres at the Cannes Film Festival on May 17. The cinematic version of Dan Brown's controversial bestseller directed by Ron Howard stars Hollywood actors Tom Hanks, Audrey Tatou and Ian McKellen.

With a plot that has charged the imagination of readers across the globe, Hanks gave his own opinion on The Da Vinci Code success.

"It is a fabulous scavenger hunt about a very powerful stuff—and that combination is really irresistible. By and large, everybody knows some aspect of their religious theology, that the book deals with. So that alone, makes everyone feel smart," Hanks said.

The Da Vinci Code is tipped to be the blockbuster of the year but the film is cloaked in so much secrecy that not even the Australian head of the studio behind it has seen it yet. With just 10 days until its world premiere at Cannes, the film, from Sony Pictures, is already being used to sell everything from phones to religion.

The Da Vinci Code has already become a high paying brand name, and whether the film makes money or not, the film is already declared a blockbuster.

Religious leaders have already publicly condemned The Da Vinci Code for its claim of a sexual relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene but the churches are also cashing in. Churches all over the world have launched websites to contest claims made in the book and to attract new members. The Anglican Church in New South Wales, Australia is spending $50,000 on a cinema advertising campaign debunking some of the book's more contentious claims.