Opus Dei has decided it's payback time after the negative depiction of the organisation in The Da Vinci Code.

A spokesman confirmed that the organisation will act as consultants for a feature film based on the life of founder St Josemaria Ecriva de Balaguer. The producers hope to cast Antonio Banderas and Robert De Niro in the leading roles.

"They have been asking us for at least six to seven years to act as consultants on the film," the Opus Dei spokes- man said. "We agreed after the Da Vinci Code affair."