It looks like the new Bruce Lee Biopic found its director in George Nolfi.
Nolfi is known for directorial work in "The Adjustment Bureau." His writing credits also include Hollywood blockbusters "Ocean's Twelve," The Bourne Ultimatum" and "Need for Speed."
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 will also be working on the new biopic called "Birth of the Dragon" with Groundswell productions (known for producing Bill Murray's "Rock the Kasbah" and Brad Pitt's "Fury") and QED International (known for producing "Milk," "The Visitor," "Win Win" and "Very Good Girls").
We're excited to retell the fantastic origin story of the world's most famous martial arts icon, which in the hands of Christopher and Stephen, lends itself to an action thriller we're sure will enthrall movie fans around the world," said Bill Block from QED.
According to Groundswell CEO Michael London, the movie is slated to start shooting next spring.
The film is inspired by Bruce Lee's duel with Wong Jack Man in 1965. The historic duel happened during the time when San Francisco's Chinatown was controlled by Hong Kong Triads. The story of Bruce Lee's match with one of China's most famous kung fu master is said to be told from Steve Macklin's perspective. Macklin, a young disciple of Lee, will ultimately join forces with Lee and Wong to battle some Chinatown gangsters.
Christopher Wilkinson and Stephen Rivele will write the screenplay, according to Variety. Wilkinson and Rivele also wrote the scripts for "Ali" and "Nixon" and are also currently working on a Freddie Mercury biopic starring Sacha Baron Cohen for GK films.
Lee had a short lived acting career. He started starring in kung fu films in the early '70's before he unfortunately passed away in 1973.
