Nearly fifteen years after Angelina Jolie electrified audiences as Evelyn Salt in Tony Scott’s original hit, the spy‑thriller franchise returns with Salt 2 (2026)—a sleek, adrenaline-fueled continuation that both honors its roots and pushes the character into astonishing new territory.
In this sequel, Evelyn Salt (Jolie, reprising her signature role) is living quietly under deep cover as a UN counterterrorism adviser in Geneva. But her peace is shattered when top secret intelligence reveals a shadowy organization known only as “The Chimera,” orchestrating high-tech assassinations of political leaders across Europe and Asia. When one of these assassins is identified as Salt’s former protégé, Salina Voss (newcomer Aya Nakamura), the mission becomes personal.
Director David Leitch channels his trademark kinetic energy—found in hits like Atomic Blonde and Nobody—into Salt 2. The film opens with a brutal, tension-soaked alleyway confrontation in Istanbul, during which Salt must fight through multiple ambushes with minimal cover, showcasing both violence and heartbreak. That intensity gives way to a globe-trotting cat-and-mouse chase that includes a jaw-dropping motorcycle pursuit along the Amalfi Coast and a heart-stopping infiltration of a Russian naval installation under the Arctic Circle.
The strength of Salt 2 lies in its balance between bullet-riddled spectacle and emotional exploration. Jolie's performance, now older and tempered by grit, feels lived-in: Salt is no longer just the unstoppable fugitive, but a woman haunted by the cost of her choices. Her relationship with Voss evolves into a complex dance—mentor turned adversary, bound by shared history but separated by ideology. Their final showdown, set in a crumbling Transylvanian castle, is as emotionally resonant as it is violently orchestrated.
Scripted by a team including Evan Spiliotopoulos and Angelina Jolie herself, the film raises deeper questions about power, loyalty, and the ethics of espionage: Can someone like Evelyn Salt ever truly come clean from a life built on lies? It also explores gender in power—how women like Salt and Voss redefine the spy genre with strength and strategy.
If the film has a weakness, it’s perhaps its relentless pacing—some viewers may long for moments of quiet reflection. But considering the genre and audience expectations, that’s a minor quibble.
