The Mona Lisa is getting a front row seat to the filming of Ron Howard's next big project. France's Culture Ministry has announced that they are opening the doors of the Louvre, one of the world's largest and most famous museums, for Howard and his crew to shoot scenes for The DaVinci Code. Is this really such a big deal? Apparently. No one has been allowed to film scenes in the Louvre for a commercial movie since the late nineties.

Could this be a sign that France and the U.S. are beginning to heal their diplomatic relations? Nah. They're just interested in our tourist money. Who can blame them? Americans will go anywhere and pay anything to watch Tom Hanks (slated to star as DaVinci Code hero Robert Langdon) strut his stuff in front of the cameras. Tourists won't have that chance though. Scenes will be filmed after hours.

The opening scenes from the book take place in The Louvre's Grand Gallery, often home to some of art's finest works (or respectable facsimiles) including the famed Mona Lisa. No word yet on whether the actual paintings or their security doubles will be on display during filming. The scenes also include a dead Frenchman lying naked in the middle of the Grand Gallery. No word yet on the museum's policy regarding naked bodies on their floors.