George Nolfi
George Nolfi was born on the 10th of June 1968 in Boston. He graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University with a bachelor's degree in public policy. A Marshall Scholarship sent him to Oxford University where he studied philosophy. He then entered the PhD program in political science at UCLA. His initial goal was a career in government and academia. While working on his PhD dissertation at UCLA in 1997, Nolfi sold his first spec script called Pathfinder. The sale occurred during a three-studio bidding war for the project. This financial success convinced him to change his entire career path away from politics.
Nolfi received his first screenwriting credit for the sci-fi film Timeline in 2003. Paul Walker starred in this adaptation of a Michael Crichton bestselling book. His spec screenplay Honor Among Thieves became Ocean’s Twelve in 2004. George Clooney and Brad Pitt led an all-star ensemble cast in that film. In 2006, Nolfi wrote and co-produced The Sentinel starring Michael Douglas. He remained uncredited while rewriting the ending for Bourne Supremacy two weeks before its release in 2004. He returned to the Matt Damon spy thriller franchise in 2007 to co-write Bourne Ultimatum. Tony Gilroy and Scott Z. Burns shared writing credits with him on that project.
His continued working relationship with Matt Damon led to a feature directorial debut with The Adjustment Bureau in 2011. The film was adapted from the 1954 Philip K. Dick short story titled The Adjustment Team. That original story had been nominated for several awards. The narrative raises questions about fate and whether humans control their own destiny. Some sci-fi cinephiles consider The Adjustment Bureau one of the most underrated sci-fi films. It stars Matt Damon and Emily Blunt as leads. The movie blends science fiction elements with romance and action thriller genres.
Nolfi created executive produced and served as the principal director for the 2015 espionage television series Allegiance. The show ran for one season on NBC. Allegiance was based on the Israeli television show The Gordin Cell which was produced in 2011. Nolfi directed four episodes and wrote two episodes during its run. This project marked his first major venture into long-form storytelling outside of cinema. The series explored themes of loyalty and deception within an intelligence agency setting.
Nolfi directed and co-wrote The Banker in 2020 starring Anthony Mackie and Samuel L. Jackson. The passion project was based on a true story about two African American businessmen. These men were heroes of their time who overcame racism and redlining through their endeavors. The film brought public awareness to these historical figures and their struggles. It received wide praise particularly among the black community. In March 2021, The Banker won Outstanding Independent Motion Picture at the 52nd NAACP Image Awards. This recognition highlighted the cultural significance of the film's subject matter.
In 2024, Nolfi and Mackie teamed up again for the post-apocalyptic action thriller Elevation. This was their third collaboration together. The film had 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 conducted first-hand research into the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. That research led him to write Kabul as a film script for Universal Pictures. Tom Hardy and Channing Tatum are attached to star in and also produce that project. In January 2025, Nolfi was hired to write the screenplay for an untitled Star Wars film directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.
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Common questions
When and where was George Nolfi born?
George Nolfi was born on the 10th of June 1968 in Boston. He graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University with a bachelor's degree in public policy before earning a Marshall Scholarship to study philosophy at Oxford University.
What career did George Nolfi pursue after selling his first spec script Pathfinder?
George Nolfi changed his entire career path away from politics and academia after selling his first spec script called Pathfinder during a three-studio bidding war in 1997. This financial success convinced him to leave his PhD program in political science at UCLA to focus on screenwriting.
Which films did George Nolfi write or co-write featuring Matt Damon?
George Nolfi wrote and directed The Adjustment Bureau in 2011, which stars Matt Damon alongside Emily Blunt. He also returned to the franchise to co-write Bourne Ultimatum in 2007 alongside Tony Gilroy and Scott Z. Burns.
How many seasons did the television series Allegiance run for on NBC?
The espionage television series Allegiance ran for one season on NBC starting in 2015. George Nolfi created the show, served as executive producer, directed four episodes, and wrote two episodes based on the Israeli series The Gordin Cell.
When did The Banker win an award at the NAACP Image Awards?
In March 2021, The Banker won Outstanding Independent Motion Picture at the 52nd NAACP Image Awards. The film starred Anthony Mackie and Samuel L. Jackson and was based on a true story about two African American businessmen who overcame racism and redlining.