Walden Media Promotes Julia Friley To Vice President Of Scripted Development

Matt Grobar

25 April 2024 at 12:27 pm·2-min read

EXCLUSIVE: Walden Media has promoted Julia Friley to Vice President of Scripted Development.

In her new role, Friley will create and develop commercial film and television projects with a focus on authentic characters rooted in stories of courage. Currently, she’s overseeing the development of several projects, including feature adaptations of the bestselling novels The Last Animal, Coyote Sunrise and The Sky Blues.

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Most recently serving as Director of Development, Friley joined Walden Media as a creative executive in 2020. Since then, she’s also been involved in the creative development and production of projects like Apple TV+’s limited series Manhunt, Netflix’s Emmy winner The Baby-Sitters Club, and Apple TV+’s sci-fi pic Finch, starring Tom Hanks, which in 2021 brought the fledgling streamer its largest opening weekend ever.

Prior to her time at Walden, the Boston University alum worked in development at Paramount Animation, Fox Family, Columbia Pictures and Sony’s International Film Group.

“Julia’s deep understanding of storytelling, coupled with her impeccable taste and genuine character, make her an exceptional creative executive,” said President of Production Benjamin Tappan. “Walden Media is privileged to have her as Vice President, and we look forward to continuing our journey together.”

An independent film studio founded in Los Angeles in 2000, Walden has put out more than 60 features in total. Notable titles in addition to the aforementioned include Ray, Wonder, A Dog’s Purpose, Bridge to Terabithia, The Chronicles of Narnia, Charlotte’s Web, Amazing Grace and Holes. Recently producing Apple’s Manhunt, a limited series about the hunt for Abraham Lincoln’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth, the company is currently in production on the James Vanderbilt-directed feature drama Nuremberg, starring Russell Crowe, Rami Malek and Michael Shannon.

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