Salt may get a sequel at some point, but Phillip Noyce won’t be directing it

Just yesterday, I mentioned that while KNIGHT AND DAY failed to light the box office on fire here in North America, it still managed to do good business everywhere else. Angelina’s Jolie’s spy thriller SALT had pretty much the same thing happen to it, actually making close to $300 million overseas. So talk of a sequel isn’t completely out of the question. Back in August in fact, SALT writer Kurt Wimmer told the LA Times that he had an idea for the sequel already in mind, and that director Phillip Noyce was interested in coming back. At least, he was…

While speaking with Moviehole, Noyce revealed that he has moved on from the project and any potential sequel:

“Those 3 [alternate] Blu-ray cuts [of the film] represent just about everything I have to offer on Evelyn Salt. If there ever is a sequel, better its directed by someone with a completely fresh take on what I believe could be a totally entertaining and complex series of stories.”

What would make Noyce suddenly change his mind is anyone’s guess, though it’s not like he’ll be starving for work as the director is currently linked to a few projects – the time travel film TIMELESS, another spy thriller called WENCESLAS SQUARE, and the adaptation DIRT MUSIC with Russell Crowe which Noyce reveals has had some movement:

“Christopher Hampton, of Atonement fame, is currently in negotiations to rework the Dirt Music script, with Russell Crowe confirmed to play singer/song writer Luther Fox. It’s a film about the transporting power of love and music.”