George Nolfi

Early life

Nolfi was born in Boston. He graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University, earning a bachelor's degree in public policy and was awarded a Marshall Scholarship to Oxford University where he studied philosophy. He then entered the PhD program in political science at UCLA with an eye toward a career in government and academia.

Career

While working on his PhD dissertation at UCLA in 1997, Nolfi sold his first spec script, Pathfinder, in a three-studio bidding war. It would ultimately convince him to change his career path.

In 2003, Nolfi received his first screenwriting credit for the sci-fi film Timeline, a Michael Crichton bestselling book adaptation starring Paul Walker. His spec screenplay, Honor Among Thieves, was adapted into Ocean’s Twelve (2004), with an all-star ensemble cast led by George Clooney and Brad Pitt. In 2006, Nolfi wrote and co-produced The Sentinel, a political action thriller starring Michael Douglas.

Nolfi is uncredited with rewriting the ending for Bourne Supremacy (2004) two weeks before its release. He returned to the Matt Damon spy thriller franchise in 2007 to co-write Bourne Ultimatum with Tony Gilroy, and Scott Z. Burns.

His continued working relationship with Damon lead to a feature directorial debut with The Adjustment Bureau (2011). The film was adapted from the 1954 Philip K. Dick short story classic titled "The Adjustment Team," which had been nominated for several awards. The story raises the questions of fate and whether we control our own destiny. Among some sci-fi cinephiles, The Adjustment Bureau is considered one of the most underrated sci-fi films.

Nolfi created, executive produced, and served as the principal director for the 2015 espionage television series Allegiance, which ran for one season on NBC. Allegiance was based on the Israeli television show The Gordin Cell, which was produced in 2011.

Nolfi directed and co-wrote The Banker (2020), starring Anthony Mackie and Samuel L. Jackson. The passion project, based on a true story, brought public awareness to two African American businessmen, heroes of their time, and to their endeavors to overcome racism and redlining. The film has been widely praised, particularly among the black community. In March 2021, The Banker won Outstanding Independent Motion Picture at the 52nd NAACP Image Awards.

In 2024, Nolfi and Mackie teamed up again for the post-apocalyptic action thriller Elevation. This was their third collaboration. Following a modest theatrical run (grossing approximately US $3.6 million on an $18 million budget), Elevation experienced a remarkable worldwide resurgence after its release on Amazon Prime Video (International) and HBO Max (domestic) in early 2025.

Nolfi’s own first-hand research into the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 led him to write Kabul, a film script for Universal Pictures.  Tom Hardy and Channing Tatum are attached to star in and also produce the project. In January 2025, Nolfi was hired to write the screenplay for an untitled Star Wars film directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

References

1. Barnes, Brooks. (2011-02-25). "Boy Meets Girl. And Angels Conspire.". The New York Times.
2. N'Duka, Amanda. (2019-03-07). "‘The Adjustment Bureau’ Helmer George Nolfi Inks With CAA".
3. Courtney, Camerin. (2011-03-01). "Fate, Free Will, and Romance".
4. "THE BANKER: A Conversation with Director George Nolfi {{!}} LA Screenwriter".
5. (2007-07-25). "Matt Damon Interview - THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM".
6. Hornaday, Ann. (2011-03-03). "Ann Hornaday reviews 'The Adjustment Bureau,' an ambitious, impressive thriller". The Washington Post.
7. Leah, Rozen. (2011-03-03). "Review: Matt Damon's 'Adjustment' -- It's 'The Matrix' With Heart".
8. (2011-03-03). "Interview: Adjustment Bureau George Nolfi Talks Architecture And God".
9. (2021-02-24). "The 15 Most Underrated Sci-Fi Movies of the Last Decade".
10. Mendelson, Scott. "'The Banker' Review: AppleTV's First Movie Is An Excellent Investment".
11. Broadnax, Jamie. (2020-04-03). "Mackie and Jackson are Superheroes in 'The Banker'".
12. Andre, Wheeler. (2020-04-01). "Self-Made and The Banker showcase the power of black-owned businesses".
13. Writer, John N. Mitchell Tribune Staff. "Mitchell: See 'The Banker' — if they'll let you".
14. Hein, Michael. (2024-12-02). "Elevation Director George Nolfi Has Plans for Many More Films With Anthony Mackie".
15. (September 12, 2025). "Elevation TOP 10 stats for Amazon Prime Video and HBO Max".
16. Fuster, Jeremy. (2012-11-09). "Channing Tatum, Tom Hardy to Star in Universal Film About Afghanistan Evacuation".
17. Kit, Borys. (January 24, 2025). "Daisy Ridley's 'Star Wars' Movie Enlists Writer George Nolfi (Exclusive)".