Movie News

Phillip Noyce Talks Salt Gender Change

June 22, 2009

Dark Horizons got a chance to talk to director Phillip Noyce about his new action-thriller Salt that was originally supposed to star Tom Cruise but was changed for Angelina Jolie to star in. He also talks about his other projects in the works and what is not happening. Here are some highlights from the interview:

*On Tom Cruise's Involvement: Tom Cruise was approached in May 2008 with Kurt Wimmer's script in which the lead was Edwin A. Salt. "We discussed the film with Tom, we had a table read with various actors, including Samuel L. Jackson, who kindly played one of the parts, just so we could hear the script read" says Noyce. That read lead to Sony wanting to make the film, but "Tom wasn’t prepared to commit to the script as it was – I mean, his main fears were that the character was too close to Ethan Hunt, being a rogue spy, with extraordinary abilities". As a result over many months they "tried to twist and turn the story to differentiate the character of Edwin Salt from Ethan Hunt" but it still didn't work out.

* On Jolie's Involvement: Pascal suggested Jolie and sent the script to her. In September last year, Kurt Wimmer, Noyce, and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura went to Jolie's home and spent several days "discussing our mutual visions for what the film could be, and how, if a male character was to be turned into a female character, how that would be achieved". Brian Helgeland "did a character pass, or dialogue pass on the film" based on the script and notes that came out of those discussions with Jolie. Then she committed.

*On The Script Revisions: Despite the lead's gender change, "The locomotive of ideas that drive the movie are the same. An undercover CIA operative is accused of being a Russian mole, and has to go on the run to defend themselves. That’s been the same since day one." The tone however has changed - "Following the trend in action-adventure spy movies, it has evolved into a story where we hope at all times that the audience take seriously the emotional interplay between the characters, and are very, very involved on an emotional level with the story. As well as getting enormous thrills and spills, and all the other popcorn elements that you’d hope to see in a summer movie"

* On the "Mary, Queen of Scots" project with Scarlett Johansson: "That film was being financed by a company that essentially went broke... the finances went bankrupt early last year."

* On "American Pastoral": The Philip Roth adaptation once had Evan Rachel Wood slated to star in years ago, but "she’s too old now". The project however remains in his sights - "We could never find the right actor to play the lead, who could get the film made. I remain attached to it, and hope to make it. So, you know, that’s one like "The Quiet American", which was in development with me for seven years. It’s one that I’ll come back to"

* On what's next? "The next film I am trying to make is "Dirt Music", the Tim Winton novel set in western Australia".

For more, including Noyce's take on Jolie's work so far, click here.

From ComingSoon.net

Photos of Angelina Jolie on the Salt Set
The Weekend Warrior: June 26 - 28
Russian Trailer for Angelina Jolie-Starrer Salt
The Teaser for Angelina Jolie-Starrer Salt
Johnny Depp Joining Angelina Jolie in The Tourist

Other Movie Sites

UPDATED: Angelina Jolie Goes Bourne in Domestic Salt Trailer
Lives of Others Director Might Fall Into Jolies Tourist Trap
The Tourist Gets Traveling Money, Sets Out in February
More Changes Bring Depp, Cuaron to The Tourist
Blu-ray Disc Release Calendar - Page 3

COMMENTS (8)

Posted by:

Mr. Jack Bauer

June 22, 2009

Sounds good to me, Tom Cruise is out, and Jolie is in.

Posted by:

nunya

June 22, 2009

Man - how many times no is that that Jolie has played an assassin type character or a bad ass chick with guns? Not that I'm complaining...she's hot and I think the only female action star out now if not ever. This is way better than Cruise being the star. If I wanted to see Tom Cruise play Tom Cruise, cause he does that in every movie, I'd watch the rerun of the Oprah interview.

Posted by:

nunya

June 22, 2009

*now...

My bad for some reason I remembered this movie being an assassin on the run type movie. But I still think she is the only female ever that can be called a bona fide action movie star as opposed to a woman who has played in one or two action movies.

Posted by:

fresh

June 22, 2009

OK I'm in. Im stoked for this. Wish it was coming out this year.

Posted by:

evil mantis

June 22, 2009

Cruise is such a better actor. But I can see where he's coming from. Still a shame though

Posted by:

Fab

June 22, 2009

Jolie in and Cruise out? I'm definitely IN!!!

Posted by:

Anita

June 24, 2009

I can't watch a Jolie movie. I fear that she is too over hyped to play a character and become it. Cruise would have brought in more dough. I see his point though. If there is MI4, where he can make more money as the producer,, why play another Ethan Hunt? Good luck to the movie, I am over and done with Angelina Jolie.

Posted by:

another anita

June 24, 2009

Anita, you are an idiot. Cruise is over. when was the last time he even worked on a movie? brad pitt is far move overexposed than Jolie is but i'm sure you just love him don't you? ick!