Bruce Lee Biopic Draws ‘Adjustment Bureau’ Director (EXCLUSIVE)
Jim Spellman/WireImage
May 30, 2014 | 12:30PM PT
Film Reporter
Dave McNary
Film Reporter @Variety_DMcNary
“The Adjustment Bureau” director George Nolfi has come on board to helm Bruce Lee biopic “Birth of the Dragon” for Groundswell Productions and QED International.
The film will be produced by QED topper Bill Block, Groundswell CEO Michael London, Janice Williams, Christopher Wilkinson and Stephen Rivele. Kelly Mullen of Groundswell exec produces.
London told Variety that producers are aiming to begin shooting next spring.
The film is inspired by the true story of Bruce Lee’s historic 1965 duel with Wong Jack Man, China’s most famous kung fu master at a time when San Francisco’s Chinatown was controlled by Hong Kong Triads. The story of the match is told from the perspective of Steve Macklin, a young disciple of Lee, who ultimately joins forces with Lee and Wong to battle a vicious band of Chinatown gangsters.
The team of Wilkinson and Rivele, whose credits include “Nixon” and “Ali,” came on board last year to write the script.
Lee began appearing in films in the early 1970s before passing away in 1973.
QED is producing Bill Murray’s “Rock the Kasbah” and financed and produced Brad Pitt’s World War II actioner “Fury.” Groundswell productions include “Milk,” “The Visitor,” “Win Win” and “Very Good Girls.”
Nolfi’s writing credits include “Ocean’s Twelve,” “The Bourne Ultimatum,” “Need for Speed” and “The Adjustment Bureau,” which he adapted from the Philip K. **** novel.
Nolfi is also an executive producer on “Allegiance,” a drama about a young CIA analyst that received a series order earlier this month from NBC. Nolfi wrote and directed the pilot.
He’s repped by WME.
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