Angelina Jolie is close to signing a deal with Columbia Pictures for the lead role in spy thriller, Edwin A. Salt. It was thought Tom Cruise was going to be the lead role in the action movie but Jolie has expressed interest in the role and the script is in the process of being rewritten.
The Tom Cruise Effect
Edwin A. Salt was supposed to be Cruise’s film comeback after his last few box office disasters. It looked as though this could be his platform for a return to films playing the role of a CIA officer accused of being a sleeper spy for Russia who must go on the run until his innocence is proven.
However, news surfaced recently that Jolie was close to signing a deal and writers were tweaking the script to suit a female starring role. According to Fox News entertainment writer Roger Friedman, the heart of the issue is both business and personal. Friedman is in close contact with industry insiders that say Cruise was asking for too much money and unaware that he can’t command the $20 million per film he has received in the past.
Cruise has also left a bad taste in the industry’s mouth. Between his Scientology fueled feuds with Brooke Shields and Matt Lauer, odd control over, and couch jumping for, wife Katie Holmes and sinking public opinion, it seems his heyday may be over.
Being bumped out of a movie by the industry because of odd behavior and lost profit isn’t unfamiliar territory for Cruise. He was dropped by Paramount Pictures in 2006 after disappointing box office numbers rumored to be due to his random behavior. Cruise angered Paramount when he used Mission Impossible: III promotional interviews and appearances to gush about his new engagement to Holmes.
Angie Takes Another Role
This is also not the first time Jolie has taken a role from someone else either.
Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt co-owned Plan B, a movie production company, which was slated to produce the movie version of the book A Mighty Heart. This is the book Mariane Pearl wrote about the kidnapping and killing of her husband, Daniel Pearl, while he was reporting for the Wall Street Journal in Pakistan.
It was rumored Plan B obtained the movie rights due in large part to Aniston pursuing the option and her developed friendship with Pearl. Aniston was lined up to play the starring role of Mariane, the widow, as well. However, when Pitt and Aniston divorced amid infidelity rumors, Pitt got full ownership of Plan B in the divorce settlement.
Since Pitt had full control over the company and all the projects, he cast his girlfriend and infidelity cohort, Jolie, in the starring role instead. Neither actress nor Pitt ever commented publically on their feelings about the switch but sources close to Aniston told British newspaper The Sun she was unhappy about Jolie being given the role and Pitt taking credit for the movie.
Edwin A. Salt Role
Jolie hasn’t officially signed on the dotted line yet but industry sources say it’s only a matter of time. This will be Jolie’s first film since giving birth to twins Knox and Vivienne in mid-July. Variety writer Michael Fleming says the film will be renamed to reflect the female role.
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