Dan Brown, Audrey Tautou, Tom Hanks and Ron Howard at the Cannes Film Festival 2006, Cannes, France - 17.05.06.

The movie was given an adult rating and disclaimers were ordered for both the start and end, reminding viewers the work is fictional.

The move is a blow for devout Christians in the country who have taken offence to the film's suggestion JESUS CHRIST fathered a child.

JOSEPH DIAS, head of the Catholic Secular Forum, has been on hunger strike in a bid to have director RON HOWARD's project banned, and has also sued distributor Sony Films and the board of censors for "hurting religious sentiments".

The case is due in court today (19MAY06).