According to CinemaBlend, Columbia Pictures is looking to fast-track the project for a 2012 release. There’s no official word from Hanks’ camp nor has director Ron Howard announced his return to helm a third film based on  Dan Brown’s popular series of novels.

The thing is, even though Angels & Demons was barely a blip here in America, it made $350 million internationally. There’s still tons of money to be made here and Columbia is willing to keep spending to make more movies. The Lost Symbol is coming.

Angels & Demons grossed a total of $486 million worldwide. $133.37 million of that total came from the U.S. The film had a budget of an estimated $150 million.

Tom Hanks immediately got his hands on a copy, stating that “it’s a page-turner. Dan Brown knows how to weave a tale. I was exhausted by the end of it.”

He added that if the third installment based on “The Lost Symbol” is greenlit, he would love to reprise his role as Langdon. “I’d love to if they’re going to do it,” he said. “I’m not going to walk away from that. If they make it again, I hope they ask me.”

Now, Cinemablend has learned that even though the second installment, “Angels and Demons,” took in only $133 million in the US on a $150 million budget, Columbia Pictures is still planning to fast track “The Lost Symbol” for a 2012 release. The reason is because “Angels” took in a whopping $352 million internationally for a $485 million worldwide gross.

Hanks is clearly on board, but the site says that director Ron Howard is currently unsure if he wants to return. Stay tuned.