Principal photography commences this week on the Columbia Pictures production Salt, an espionage action thriller starring Angelina Jolie (Wanted, Changeling, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Bone Collector). Phillip Noyce (The Bone Collector, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger) directs. The original screenplay is written by Kurt Wimmer (The Recruit, The Thomas Crown Affair), with a current re-write by Brian Helgeland (Mystic River, Man On Fire, The Taking Of Pelham 1 2 3). Salt is produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura (Transformers, 1408, G.I. Joe) and Sunil Perkash (Enchanted). Executive producers are Ric Kidney and Mark Vahradian.

In Columbia Pictures’ Salt, Angelina Jolie stars as Evelyn Salt, a CIA officer who swore an oath to duty, honor, and country. When she is accused by a defector of being a Russian sleeper spy, Salt goes on the run to clear her name and ultimately prove she is a patriot. Using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative, she must elude capture and protect her husband or the world’s most powerful forces will erase any trace of her existence.

Liev Schreiber stars as Winter, Salt’s boss and friend on the Russian desk at the CIA, and Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Peabody, a CIA counter-intelligence officer.

Di Bonaventura said, “It’s always a thrill to start production. It’s especially gratifying to work on redefining this genre with such a talented actress. Angelina is a rare combination of intelligence, emotional range, and physical ability.”

Noyce added, “It’s great to be working with Angelina once again. She’s the only one who could bring this character to life. Salt will be tense and exciting, everything that thriller audiences expect, but also with a strong, multi-dimensional character at the center.”

Robert Elswit is the director of photography. Production Designer is Scott Chambliss. John Gilroy is the editor. Sarah Edwards is the costume designer.