For nearly two decades, it was impossible to separate Robert Langdon from Tom Hanks. From The Da Vinci Code to Angels & Demons and Inferno, Hanks became the face of Dan Brown’s world-famous symbologist. Now, Netflix is turning the page with a new leading man.
According to Deadline, Morgan Spector has officially signed on to play Robert Langdon in Netflix’s adaptation of Dan Brown’s The Secret of Secrets, becoming the first actor to inherit the role since Hanks made it iconic on the big screen.
Spector, best known for The Gilded Age and Black Rabbit, will portray the Harvard professor and renowned symbologist whose extraordinary memory and gift for solving complex puzzles place him at the centre of mysteries where science collides with spirituality.
The casting follows earlier reports that Rebecca Hall is expected to play the series’ female lead. Spector’s new role will not affect his future on HBO’s The Gilded Age, where he plays fan-favourite railroad tycoon George Russell. If the period drama returns for a fifth season, he is expected to continue with both productions. Season four of The Gilded Age is scheduled to premiere later this autumn.
Based on Brown’s latest novel, the untitled series blends futuristic science with ancient mythology. The story follows Langdon as he races against time and powerful ancient forces to rescue his missing scientist girlfriend and recover her groundbreaking manuscript, whose discoveries could permanently reshape humanity’s understanding of the human mind.
Carlton Cuse and Dan Brown serve as co-creators and executive producers of the series. Cuse also writes the adaptation and serves as showrunner. Emma Forman of Genre-Arts executive produces alongside Zoe Robyn. Netflix gave the project a straight-to-series order after acquiring it in May 2025.
Explaining why Spector was chosen, Cuse praised both the actor and the qualities he brings to Langdon.
“Morgan is a truly wonderful actor whose work is always filled with intelligence, thoughtfulness and humanity. He’s the perfect fit for Robert Langdon — a brilliant academic whose curiosity, intelligence and intellect are the tools of his trade.”
The Secret of Secrets was published by Doubleday on 9 September 2025, and the Netflix adaptation will mark Robert Langdon’s first screen adventure since Tom Hanks last portrayed the character in 2016’s Inferno.
