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SYNOPSIS
The world has changed. The only habitable place left for humanity is in the high mountains, above 8000 feet. Below 8000 feet dwell the creatures that killed 95% of the human population less than three years ago. To save the life of his young son, a father (Anthony Mackie) is forced to venture below “The Line” with a scientist (Morena Baccarin) he despises, but who just might hold the key to
defeating the monsters, and a young woman (Maddie Hasson) determined to keep them both alive long enough to save the human race.
Cinefied's Tyler Strandberg had the opportunity to speak with Director George Nolfi and Actor Maddie Hasson about the newly released Sci-Fi Action Thriller, Elevation.
READ Our Elevation Review HERE
GEORGE NOLFI, P.G.A. | DIRECTOR/PRODUCER
George Nolfi directed, wrote, and produced The Adjustment Bureau, starring Matt Damon, Emily Blunt and Anthony Mackie and The Banker, starring Anthony Mackie and Samuel L. Jackson, which won the NAACP award for best independent feature in 2021.
His screenplay credits include The Bourne Ultimatum, Ocean’s Twelve, and The Sentinel. He was the creator, showrunner, and principal director of the television spy series, Allegiance.
With Elevation, Nolfi reunites with Mackie for their third collaboration, alongside Morena Baccarin, in a high-stakes action-thriller set against the dramatic landscapes of the Colorado Rockies. Nolfi studied international affairs, political science, and philosophy as an undergraduate at Princeton University and graduate student at Oxford University and UCLA.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
Imagine a world where 95% of the population has perished, but the remaining 5% live in serene, mountaintop communities above 8000 feet, untouched by the death and destruction below. These virtual Gardens of Eden offer everything a person could need: food, water, safety, and stunning natural beauty. The question that intrigued me was, could humanity truly thrive in such a world?
What would people become when all their physical needs are met, but they are isolated from the rest of the world? This film starts with that premise and then takes you on a gripping journey, where our characters must venture below The Line at 8000 feet that defines their lives. It’s in this descent that we confront a deeper question: Is the very technology and intelligence that helped us evolve and create great civilizations also driving us toward destruction?
Bringing this story to life, especially for a third time working with Anthony Mackie, alongside the incredible talents of Morena Baccarin and the rest of the cast, was both challenging and exhilarating. We shot in breathtaking yet demanding locations — from operating ski lifts in the Colorado Rockies to deep within an active mine, a mile underground. These settings aren’t just backdrops; they elevate the tension and stakes of the film, creating a truly immersive, theatrical experience. Our entire team was all-in, pushing boundaries to ensure that this movie not only entertains but also makes you question the future of humanity.
MADDIE HASSON | “Katie”
Maddie can currently be seen as a series regular in Netflix’s The Recruit from executive producer Doug Liman. Maddie was last seen in James Wan’s New Line Cinema horror film Malignant as well as starring in Tim Sutton's Taurus opposite Machine Gun Kelly, Scott McNairy, and Megan Fox. Next up, Maddie will be seen starring in George Nolfi’s Elevation alongside Anthony Mackie and Morena Baccarin, as well as in Violence alongside Rohan Campbell. Previously, she gave a memorable performance opposite Melissa Leo and Margaret Qualley in the Sony Classics film Novitiate, and she co-starred opposite Tom Hiddleston and Elizabeth Olsen in the Sony Classics film I Saw the Light. On the television side, she most recently starred in Doug Liman’s critically acclaimed, genre-bending YouTube Originals action/thriller Impulse, which sits at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. She can also currently be seen starring in Marc Meyers’ We Summon the Darkness alongside Alexandra Daddario and Johnny Knoxville. She was recently singled out by The Hollywood Reporter as The Next Big Thing.
Maddie rose to fame as the lead of ABC Family’s Twisted, for which she garnered two Teen Choice Award nominations for Best Actress. Prior to starring on Twisted, she was a lead on Fox’s The Finder. Maddie’s other films include the indie-thriller A Light Beneath THEIR FEET, starring Taryn Manning, Madison Davenport and Carter Jenkins, as well as the lead of independent film More Than Enough, directed by Anne-Marie Hess.