'Salt' Sequel in the Works for Angelina Jolie

Sequels are such a ubiquitous presence in the Hollywood landscape that you sort of grow used to the fact that every blockbuster will at least be prepared for the idea, even if you don't really expect it to pay off. So when the Angelina Jolie vehicle "Salt" ended with (SPOILER) her running off into the forrest as an escaped convict I recognized the intent but really didn't expect them to ever pay off on it.

But what Jolie wants, Jolie gets, and Deadline is reporting that Jolie wants a sequel to "Salt." It's an understandable desire - the original film gave her a character with an air of complexity while still giving her a chance to pull off all kinds of awesome stunts and look great while doing it. It's sort of the perfect platform for someone like Jolie.

Unfortunately, if this does come together, "Salt" director Philip Noyce wants no part of it.

"Those three [alternate] Blu-ray cuts represent just about everything I have to offer on Evelyn Salt," he told Moviehole back in December. "If there ever is a sequel, better it's directed by someone with a completely fresh take on what I believe could be a totally entertaining and complex series of stories."

Noyce gave the original, which was about a CIA agent outted as a Russian spy, a lot of energy that was sorely needed, but when the Blu-ray contains three separate cuts of the film, that indicates that he and the studio didn't see eye-to-eye on the direction the story should take, which explains why he might not be up for more.

Given Noyce's disinterest in returning and the film's only marginal box office success ($118 million domestic stacked against a $110 million budget), many had written off the possibility of a sequel. Universal tried to nail down Jolie for a sequel to "Wanted," which never did come together, so sudden talk of a "Salt" sequel indicates active interest on her part.

Sony already has screenwriter Kurt Wimmer typing away.