We are Valhalla
Bringing unique perspectives and expertise to every project, while pushing the boundaries of storytelling. Together, we're on a journey to entertain, challenge, and connect with viewers, one compelling narrative at a time.
Gale Anne Hurd’s Valhalla Entertainment is responsible for some of the most iconic films and television series in history.
Among the company’s portfolio are all 11 seasons of the global TV phenomenon, The Walking Dead, as well as eight seasons of its companion series, Fear the Walking Dead and the “TWD Universe” spin-offs, Tales of the Walking Dead, World Beyond, Dead City, Daryl Dixon and the upcoming The Ones Who Live.
The company’s films consist of tentpole blockbusters like THE TERMINATOR, ALIENS, THE ABYSS, ARMAGEDDON, TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY (recently added to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress) and DICK, a Watergate satire starring Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
In addition, Valhalla Entertainment’s television catalog includes two seasons of Amazon’s LORE, an adaptation of the hit podcast of the same name, as well as two seasons of USA Network’s FALLING WATER, and SyFy Network’s HUNTERS. Additional feature films include cult classics like ALIEN NATION, TREMORS and THE GHOST AND THE DARKNESS as well as the critically acclaimed independent film THE WATERDANCE, which won the Sundance Film Festival’s Audience and Screenwriting Awards as well as two Independent Spirit Awards for Best First Feature and Best Screenplay.
Valhalla Entertainment’s recent feature documentary, THE YOUTUBE EFFECT, is a thoughtful yet troubling look at YouTube, a website with humble origins that has changed how we experience the world. Directed by Alex Winter, the doc premiered at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival and was subsequently released theatrically by Alamo Drafthouse Films. It is currently available to stream on multiple platforms.
Three of Valhalla’s additional documentaries focus on Native Americans. Produced for PBS and directed by Cherokee filmmaker, Valerie Red-Horse Mohl, they are TRUE WHISPERS: THE STORY OF THE NAVAJO CODE TALKERS, THE CHOCTAW CODE TALKERS and MANKILLER, chronicling the extraordinary life of Wilma Mankiller, the first woman elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.
Additionally, Valhalla’s love of the Comic Book medium has led to their work in adapting several of the most prominent characters and mythologies in the genre. They have also produced a number of original comic books and graphic novels with some of the industry’s leading publishers.
Our team is a mosaic of creative minds united by a shared mission.
Get to know the dynamic and passionate individuals behind Valhalla Entertainment, where creativity thrives, and storytelling takes center stage.
Gale Anne Hurd is a leading voice in the entertainment industry, celebrated for her ground-breaking career as a film and television producer. Initially hired as an executive assistant to the legendary Roger Corman, she rapidly rose through the ranks to become head of marketing at his independent film company, New World Pictures. After co-producing her first film, Smokey Bites The Dust for Corman, she launched her own production company in 1982. In 1984, Hurd produced her first film, the science fiction classic The Terminator, setting the stage for her meteoric rise in the entertainment industry.
Throughout her career, Hurd has championed of daring storytelling, technological innovation, and a hands on approach. In a predominately male-dominated industry, she has been a trailblazer for women and has a well-deserved reputation as a creator of iconic cultural touchstones.
Hurd's extensive producing credits include a spectrum of Academy Award®- winning films, with Aliens notably earning seven nominations and two wins. She continued to leave an indelible mark with additional Academy Award- winning works such as The Abyss, The Ghost and the Darkness, Armageddon, and Terminator 2: Judgment Day, which was recently added to the National Film Registry by the US Library of Congress. Armageddon and Terminator 2 both claimed the top spots at the worldwide box office in their respective release years, solidifying Hurd's enduring influence in the realm of blockbuster cinema. Her additional major studio credits include Tremors, The Relic, Aeon Flux (starring Charlize Theron), Ang Lee’s Hulk, The Incredible Hulk, Alien Nation, The Punisher and many others.
Equally adept in the independent film world, Hurd’s credits include The Waterdance, which won Independent Spirit Awards for Best Screenplay and Best First Feature, as well as the Audience Award and Best Screenplay at the Sundance Film Festival. Some of her additional indie credits include the cult classic, Tremors, Safe Passage starring Susan Sarandon and the late Sam Shepard. Her Watergate satire, Dick, starring Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Seamlessly transitioning into television, Hurd replicated her success with The Walking Dead, an AMC series that holds the distinction of being the most- watched television drama among the coveted 18-49-year-old demographic for an impressive six consecutive years and, additionally, reigned as the highest-rated cable series for seven consecutive years. Her influence extends further to other series within The Walking Dead universe, including its multiple spin-offs, including Fear The Walking Dead, Dead City, Daryl Dixon and the upcoming The Ones Who Live, among others. Hurd’s portfolio also includes the anthology drama series Lore, based on the popular historical podcast, which currently streams on Amazon. She has also served as an Executive Producer for two seasons of Falling Water on the USA Network and Hunters on Syfy, as well as numerous TV movies including Witch Hunt, directed by Paul Schrader and starring the late Dennis Hopper, and The Wronged Man, starring Julia Ormond and Oscar® winner Mahershala Ali.
In the realm of non-fiction, Hurd's contributions have been equally impactful. She has produced three PBS documentaries focused on Native Americans in partnership with Cherokee director, Valerie Red-Horse Mohl, including True Whispers, The Story of the Navajo Code Talkers and Choctaw Code Talkers. Their documentary, Mankiller, celebrates the extraordinary life of the late Wilma Mankiller, the first woman elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, which earned numerous awards and screened at 35 film festivals worldwide.
Her latest documentary endeavor is The YouTube Effect, an eye-opening documentary, directed by Alex Winter, which presents a thoughtful, troubling look at YouTube, a site with humble origins that has gone on to change how we experience the world. The film premiered at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival and was released in the US theatrically by Alamo Drafthouse Films.
Beyond her role as a producer, Hurd is a sought-after speaker, lending her expertise to a range of topics spanning technology to gender equality. Her impactful insights have resonated with audiences at prestigious conferences and panels worldwide, including the Milken Global Summit, the Berlin International Film Festival, the Austin Film Festival, SXSW, the Toronto International Film Festival, New York Women In Film, and two International Women's Forum Global Conferences in Barcelona and Rome. Notably, her substantial contributions to the industry led to her induction into the IWF Hall of Fame.
Hurd has generously shared her expertise and perspectives at panels hosted by the US Embassies in Peru, Iceland, Georgia, Estonia, North Macedonia and Zimbabwe, among others. She has also addressed audiences at the EuroImages Conference in Helsinki, Finland, as well as most recently in Tallinn, Estonia at the Black Nights Film Festival, and the AVP/Summit in Trieste, Italy, representing Women in Film & Television International (WIFTI). Throughout her distinguished career in film and television, Hurd has received a plethora of prestigious awards and accolades, amassing an impressive tally of 23 wins and two nominations.
Recent distinctions include the Producers Guild's David O. Selznick Award in Motion Pictures, the Charles Fitzsimons Award for Service to the Guild, the Visual Effects Society's Lifetime Achievement Award, the Society of Camera Operators Lifetime Achievement Award, the Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) Filmmakers Award, Women In Film’s Crystal Award, the 2022 Locarno Film Festival’s Best Independent Producer Award, the Cartier Award from the Deauville American Film Festival and, most recently, the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Online Film Critics Association. In 2012, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. These honors stand as a testament to her exceptional contributions to the film industry and her unwavering commitment to crafting high-quality entertainment.
Hurd's illustrious career has indelibly marked the industry, solidifying her status as a renowned and influential figure. Her extensive involvement with industry organizations, including the Producers Guild of America (PGA) and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), underscores her dedication to advancing the art and business of entertainment. At the PGA, she served on the Board for an impressive 20+ years and held an Officer position for eight years.
She now represents the guild by speaking at conferences worldwide. Her contributions at AMPAS have been equally significant, including her role as a Governor, Chairing the Nicholl Screenwriting Fellowship, and serving on the Executive Committee of the Producer's Branch. She has also been a member of various committees, including Rules, Membership, and Foreign Language, among others. Furthermore, she is an esteemed member of the International Emmys, where she has diligently served as a Judge for many years. Beyond the realm of entertainment, Hurd remains actively engaged with several organizations and groups, underscoring her dedication to various causes. These include the League of Conservation Voters, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, and the McCain Institute.
Julie Thomson graduated from the University of Utah in 1979 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. She worked at the high profile multinational firm, Price Waterhouse, in the tax department with an emphasis on entertainment clients from 1979 until 1990. She then moved to international oil company, Atlantic Richfield, working primarily in their International Tax Department from 1990 to 1992. Since 1992, she has been the CFO and Head of Business Affairs of Valhalla Entertainment/Valhalla Motion Pictures. Thomson is also a CPA and has her Real Estate Brokers license.
In over a decade with the company, Phillip has helped to shepherd an impressive slate of Television, Feature, Documentary and Comic Book projects. He has been an integral member of the team behind the development of Valhalla’s groundbreaking series, THE WALKING DEAD, and its ever-expanding universe. He produced multiple seasons of FALLING WATER for the USA network, and LORE for Amazon. He has also sold and developed series with nearly every major network and streaming service.
On the film side, Phillip oversaw the production of HELL FEST for CBS Films, and was an Associate Producer on the PBS documentary MANKILLER, as well as Alex Winter’s THE YOUTUBE EFFECT. During his tenure at Valhalla, Phillip has developed original projects with award-winning filmmakers and adaptations of properties from genre luminaries such as Neil Gaiman and Stephen King.
As an avid comic book fan, Phillip has also relished the opportunity to oversee the development of four comic book series for Gale Anne Hurd’s banner and collaborated with some of the industry’s top publishers.
