Why was Salt 2 called off? An Examination of the Franchise Spy Thrills
Starring Angelina Jolie, Salt 2010 had a strong debut in the spy thriller genre. Comprising a CIA operative accused of being a Russian mole, the movie grossed over $293 million globally. Plans for a sequel, Salt 2, were promptly revealed following the popularity of the first Still, the sequel hasn't arrived more than ten years later. Salt's ending left the door open for a sequel, and many viewers thought Evelyn Salt was among Angelina Jolie's most captivating performances. Why then did Salt 2 never come to pass?
Though there was initial hype, discussion of a Salt franchise has faded and there is little chance of a sequel developing. Mostly focusing on directing and philanthropic work, Angelina Jolie has turned away from performing. She has starred in more contemporary movies like Eternals and Those Who Wish Me Dead, but she has not expressed much desire in going back to be Evelyn Salt.
Early Approaches for Salt 2 Fell Through
Salt's last scene suggested a sequel. After averting a nuclear war, Evelyn Salt leaves CIA prison determined to track down the last Russian sleeper spies. The movie also implies that the incoming president might be a Russian mole, thereby creating a possible plot for Salt 2 which Evelyn turns into a vigilante eliminating the KA spies inside the American government. Should the first movie be a hit, Columbia Pictures, the studio behind the project, was prepared to create a follow-up.
The sequel never materialized, though. This is for a number of reasons, including Angelina Jolie's choice to back off from action-packed roles and the evolving scene of the film business.
Development on a Salt TV Series
Reports appeared in 2016 that Sony was working on a Salt TV series rather than a sequel. With Evelyn Salt hunting after moles, the sequel-teasing ending of the movie would have fit a TV series form quite readily. Nonetheless, the idea for the show resembles that of the well-known Spy Thriller The Blacklist, which might have helped to explain the cancelation of the project.
Though there is a possible interest in a television spin-off, Angelina Jolie has not shown any desire in returning to the part for a TV series and more than ten years have gone without any development on the proposal. Jolie's emphasis on humanitarian work and directing calls for attention, hence it appears improbable that she would go back to the character.
Salt Is Better Off Without Sequel
Salt started a sequel, but the Franchise might be better off without one. Later career decisions of Angelina Jolie point to her moving away from action-heroine roles and increased involvement in charity projects. Although she has starred in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil and several sequelues, these parts are anomalies in her resume.
Beyond Jolie's own interests, viewers and critics gave Salt mixed marks. Although the movie did well at the Box Office, a sequel was not much sought for. The movie also mostly drew on cliches from past action-spy movies, thereby lacking a unique interpretation of the genre.
In Her Career, Angelina Jolie Has Mostly Avoidance of Sequels
Although many of Salt 2's fans yearned for it, Angelina Jolie has eschewed Franchises and sequels over her career. Of course, she has returned to several of her legendary roles as Maleficent in the Disney series, Lara Croft in Tomb Raider, and Tigress in Kung Fu Panda. These are outlays in her long filmography, though.
Jolie boasts two Screen Actors Guild Awards, three Golden Globes, and an Oscar among her accolades. None of these honors, which imply she is not really inclined to the genre, are for her action pictures, Salt included. Salt was an aberration in her professional path as Jolie's success in movies like Girl, Interrupted and Changeling emphasizes her ability for more serious and complex parts.
