TALOS FILMS is a full-service production company that develops and produces unscripted and scripted content for a wide range of global networks and distributors. Talos Films’ principals are Julian P. Hobbs and Elli Hakami. Hakami and Hobbs recently directed and produced House of Hammer for Warner Bros. Discovery. Recently premiered on Max, Hobbs directed How to Create a Sex Scandal, a three-part docuseries executive produced with Hakami also for Warner Bros. Discovery. Talos also launched the breakout hit mini-series Queen of Meth for Discovery+ and the feature documentary Red Elvis: The Cold War Cowboy with SKY/Curiosity Stream. Talos’s other acclaimed projects include: Torn Apart: Separated At The Border, a documentary directed by Academy Award-winner Ellen Goosenberg Kent made for HBO; Rebuilding Hope: The Children of 9/11, also directed by Goosenberg Kent for Magnolia; the award-winning, critically acclaimed mini-series America’s War On Drugs for History Channel; and the breakout hit Lake Erie Murders for Investigation Discovery. Talos produced the buzzy reality competition series Clipped! with Martha Stewart for HGTV/Discovery+, the six-part series Family Reboot for Disney+, the hit survival series 100 Days Wild for Discovery, and is currently in production for a four-project output deal with Discovery+. Prior to, Talos Films also launched a nationwide search for emerging minority and female writers with Issa Rae’s Color Creative.READ MORE>
What sets Talos apart from other production companies is that both partners have produced a wide range of programming, from male and female factual entertainment, to high-quality documentary and docu-drama, to digital content and scripted series. Beyond their relationships with numerous global media executives and agents, Julian and Elli have deep relationships with the creative community, allowing them to build the right creative team for each project. From a programming perspective, Talos has an understanding of what types of content fit with network programming needs at a variety of budget models, how networks make green light decisions, and what networks need from suppliers to make those decisions. Together, Hobbs and Hakami have developed and produced content for: History Channel, Discovery Channel, A&E, TLC, Lifetime, HBO, CW, OWN, MTV, Bravo, BBC America, TruTV, Travel Channel, National Geographic Channel, Disney+ and HBO Max.
Hobbs and Hakami, who have a proven track record of success for over a decade, are uniquely positioned to develop and execute content for multiple networks and demographics due to their extensive experience. Well known and respected throughout the industry, Hobbs and Hakami have produced game-changing content both at networks and production companies.
Hobbs, in roles from Vice President at History Channel, Executive Producer & Senior Director of Development at Discovery Channel, to Head of Production at New York Times Television, has developed and produced numerous hits, including: Pawn Stars, Storage Wars, Counting Cars, Ice Road Truckers, America: The Story of US, Gettysburg, Appalachian Outlaws, The Flight That Fought Back, Ocean of Fear and Maternity Ward. Heading up scripted development and production at History Channel, Hobbs oversaw The Bible, Vikings, Texas Rising, and the upcoming Roots. Hobbs has also produced ground-breaking feature documentaries for Werner Herzog, Michael Apted, and Errol Morris. Hobbs has won multiple Emmy™ awards during his career.
Hakami, as a Senior Vice President of Unscripted Programming at BBC Worldwide Productions, created a development strategy that tripled the studio’s factual output. During her tenure, she also built a production unit that attracted top tier talent and produced several successful returning series. Hakami has also served as a network Executive Vice President at MTV and Senior Vice President at Discovery Channel. She has developed and overseen factual hits such as: Dual Survivor, Life Below Zero, What Not to Wear, Richard Hammond’s Crash Course, Catfish, and The Challenge.
Bio • Julian P. Hobbs
Julian P. Hobbs served as a VP and EP at History Channel where he served as the Executive Producer for feature documentaries, including: Werner Herzog’s Cave of Forgotten Dreams, Errol Morris’ Emmy nominated The Unknown Known, and Barbara Kopple’s Emmy nominated Woodstock: Now and Then. Hobbs also Executive Produced the Emmy Winning Outstanding Non-Fiction Special Gettysburg with Tony and Ridley Scott, as well as America: The Story of US, and Mankind. While heading up scripted development and production at History Channel, Hobbs launched The Bible with Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, the breakout drama Vikings, and Gangland Undercover.READ MORE>
Bio • Elli Hakami
Elli Hakami headed up MTV’s East Coast Production and Development team and the unscripted unit for BBC Worldwide Production in LA. During this time, she created and produced a wide range of projects including: HBO’s feature documentary, Americans in Bed, and National Geographic’s Emmy Award-Winning Life Below Zero.READ MORE>
During her tenure, Hakami developed and executive produced a dynamic slate of successful on-air series and specials including: What Not to Wear (TLC), Richard Hammond’s Crash Course(BBC America), Gold Rush: Alaska(Discovery), and Dual Survivor(Discovery). Elli also received commissions from a wide range of networks including Bravo, CW, Lifetime, TNT, A&E, History Channel, and Discovery Channel.