 The early development of the script began while Kurt Wimmer was doing interviews promoting Equilibrium . In a November 2002 interview , he discussed what scripts he was working on . He stated that " I have several scripts – foremost of which is one called The Far @-@ Reaching Philosophy of Edwin A. Salt – kind of a high @-@ action spy thriller ... " In another interview , Wimmer described the project as " very much about me and my wife " . The plot incorporated many elements from Equilibrium , with an oppressive and paranoid political system of brainwashing that gets overthrown by one of its high @-@ ranking members who rebels due to an emotional transformation . With the shortened title Edwin A. Salt , the script was sold to Columbia Pictures in January 2007 . By July 2007 , the script had attracted the attention of Tom Cruise . 
