MovieChat Forums > Salt (2010) Discussion > Who else could have played Salt?

Who else could have played Salt?

posted 14 years ago by sati369
54 replies | jump to latest

Despite the movie having its faults, I thought it was pretty enjoyable mainly due to Angelina's performance, and apparently many critics agree that she was the film's saving grace. (The general consensus for the movie on Rotten Tomatoes is "Angelina Jolie gives it her all in the title role, and her seasoned performance is almost enough to save Salt from its predictable and ludicrous plot.")
Besides Milla Jovovich who has starred in (pretty terrible) action movies such as Ultraviolet, Fifth Element, the three Resident Evil installements and Joan of Arc, or Halle Berry who played Jinx in Die another day and Catwoman, I can't really think of other badass actresses capable of taking on demanding action roles, at least not famous ones that are box office draws.
So do you think any other actress could have pulled it off and if yes then who?

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] jemimakahn 12 years ago

Jennifer Carpenter of "Dexter" - great actress, natural athlete (amazing runner), very convincing body language...OR Jennifer Garner in her "Alias" days.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] DingelBerry 12 years ago

How about Betty White as Salt?

[–] successor13326 12 years ago

I'd say Scarlett Johansson, but she kind of already played a version of Salt in The Avengers.

Emily Blunt, Katie Sackhoff, Noomi Rapace, Melanie Laurent. Or maybe you could have a black Russian Salt played by Naomie Harris, Kerry Washington or Gabourey Sidibe :)

[–] hubcap18 12 years ago

Several that haven't been named that have played this kind of role before:

Gina Carano (Haywire)
Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck)
Gabrielle Anwar (Burn Notice)
_______
As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster.

[–] alligatoruk 11 years ago

I'd have to second Charlize Theron - I think she'd have been better than Angelina to be honest. I don't normally mind Angelina but there was far too much pouting and posturing for my liking - not a natural performance at all. And where'd Salt get that constant supply of lip gloss?!

Angie did rock that short hair wig though!

[–] xfilesbell 11 years ago

Well Tom Cruise was set to play Salt at one time.. Salt was a originally written as a male...

[–] ToonsNTeases 10 years ago

Gemma Arterton

[–] zhu_bernard 10 years ago

Sophia Loren or Maggie Smith

[–] prplayer 9 years ago

Emily Blunt, Jessica Chastain

but they weren't known back then like they are now

so many movies, so little time

[–] DracTarashV2 (4497) 7 years ago

Charlize Theron is the obvious answer. After proving to be the ultimate badass in Mad Max: Fury Road, she got to have her turn with this type of spy role in “Atomic Blonde” and easily nailed it. Not only would she have effortlessly killed it in “Salt”, she also would’ve look more fit for the role than Angelina did. Angelina was great, though.

Other actresses that come to mind are Scarlett Johansson (say what you want about her size or whatever, but she’s left her mark in action roles), Zoe Saldana, and Kate Beckinsale. Frankly, out of all of them I say Scarlett might’ve been the best choice back then.

[–] nufsaid16 (700) 2 years ago

Here's a few suggestions: Jessica Chastain--she's already starred in a pretty decent spy film, The 355; Charlize Theron, Viola Davis; Cameron Diaz, and Maggie Q, who had already starred as a tough a**-kicking spy in the TV series Nikita. Here's a look at Salt, and some of the reasons why it didn't become the franchise its makers hoped to make out of it:

https://filmobsessive.com/film/film-analysis/salt-2010-the-feminist-action-franchise-that-wasnt/