Earlier this week Aussie movie news site Moviehole posted a story saying Liev Schreiber was going to join Salt, the spy thriller starring Angelina Jolie and to be directed by Phillip Noyce. I didn’t post the story because Moviehole can be a bit haphazard with their casting rumors on occasion but I should have remembered they are never too far off when it comes to stories surrounding the Australian helmer, which is why I will also tell you now the site is also reporting Chiwetel Ejiofor will also be joining the fray. I report the news today because Variety has picked up the Schreiber casting note.
The film now simply called Salt was once referred to as Edwin A. Salt when it was set to star Tom Cruise and then switched identities when the story’s protagonist changed genders. Cruise was then replaced by Jolie who will play Evelyn Salt, a CIA officer who is fingered as a Russian sleeper spy. She eludes capture by superiors who are convinced she is out to assassinate the president. While trying to reunite with her family, she struggles to prove someone else is the traitor. Schreiber will play Salt’s boss and friend on the Russian desk at the CIA.
Filming begins next month in New York for what we can assume will be a 2010 release.
