Jonathan Nolan Biography

Jonathan "Jonah" Nolan is a British-American film writer, television producer, television writer, and director, as well as an author.

Early life

Nolan was born in London, England, to an English father and American mother. He was raised in London and Chicago. Nolan attended Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where he majored in English and was a staff writer for The Hoya.

Career

Nolan's short story "Memento Mori" was used by his elder brother, director Christopher Nolan, as the basis for the critically acclaimed film Memento. Even though Jonathan did not share any screenwriting credit for the film and the film is not an original screenplay, they shared a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay) since the movie was released before the story was published.

In 2005, Jonathan and Christopher co-wrote the screenplay for The Prestige, which is based on Christopher Priest's novel of the same title. The brothers collaborated yet again on the screenplay for the 2008 blockbuster The Dark Knight. The film went on to become the most financially successful Batman movie of all time.

On 10 February 2011, CBS picked up Nolan's pilot Person of Interest. The show was officially picked up by CBS on 13 May 2011 to air in Fall 2011. The show is currently in its third season. The series stars Jim Caviezel, Michael Emerson and Taraji P. Henson. Nolan also serves as executive producer along with J.J. Abrams.

On 9 February 2010, it was announced that Nolan would be writing a screenplay, based on a story by his brother Christopher and writer David S. Goyer, for the final installment of Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises. After Jonathan completed the screenplay, Christopher made some changes and touched it up. The movie was released on 20 July 2012 in North America.

Nolan has written a screenplay for Interstellar, a science-fiction feature based on the works of theoretical physicist Kip Thorne, who will serve as executive producer. Christopher Nolan was courted to direct the film, but due to it being set up at Paramount Pictures, negotiations had proven laborious due to Christopher's Syncopy Inc. being based at Warner Bros. Studios. In March 2013, a deal was brokered for Christopher Nolan to co-write, direct and produce the film with Paramount distributing domestically, while Warner Bros. will distribute internationally. Emma Thomas and Lynda Obst will also produce.

Personal life

Nolan describes his successful working relationship with his brother (Christopher) in the production notes of The Prestige: "I've always suspected that it has something to do with the fact that he's left-handed and I'm right-handed, because he's somehow able to look at my ideas and flip them around in a way that's just a little bit more twisted and interesting. It's great to be able to work with him like that." In addition, they also contrast in the way they speak; both brothers have mixed American and British accents, Jonathan has a more American accent while Christopher has a more British accent. He has Irish ancestry.

Writing Credits

Short Fiction

• "Memento Mori" (2001) the story basis for Memento (2000)

Film

• The Prestige (2006) " co-screenplay
• The Dark Knight (2008) " co-screenplay
• The Dark Knight Rises (2012) " co-screenplay
• Interstellar (2014) " co-screenplay

Television

• Person of Interest (2011"present) " creator and executive producer
  • "Pilot" (airdate: 22 Sep 2011) " writer
  • "Ghosts" (airdate: 29 Sep 2011) " co-writer
  • "Many Happy Returns" (airdate: 3 May 2012) " co-storywriter
  • "Firewall" (airdate: 17 May 2012) " co-writer
  • "The Contingency" (airdate: 27 Sep 2012) " co-writer
  • "Relevance" (airdate: 21 Feb 2013) " co-writer and director
  • "God Mode" (airdate: 9 May 2013) " co-writer