Notes From the Rep Biz ~ 7/10/2026

A popstar to WME! A YouTuber to CAA! One the biggest boy bands in the world to UTA! Plus, Jessica Alba has new management, casting news on The Daniels’ latest secretive project, and a creature from the depths of the internet spotlights our project of the month! All this and more in Notes from the Rep Biz!

At WME:

British mega popstar Robbie Williams is a new sign for WME. Williams launched to fame as a member of the pop group Take That before striking out on his own and crafting hit after chart topping hit in the late 90s, such as “Angels,” “Millenium,” and “Expecting You.” In 2010 Williams rejoined Take That for a year before going back on his own. In 2024 the film Better Man directed by Michael Gracey and starring Williams was released to much acclaim. The film is a biopic of Williams life, but he is a CGI chimpanzee. This past February Williams released his latest album Britpop which received positive reviews and hit number one on the charts, the 16th of his albums to do so.

Director Michael Tiddes is also now repped by the agency. Tiddes’ directorial debut came from 2013’s A Haunted House, the film a parody movie starring and co-written by Marlon Wayans led to a partnership with Wayans leading to the parody films A Haunted House 2 in 2014 and Fifty Shades of Black in 2016. This past month the Tiddes directed Scary Movie reboot (also starring and co-written by Wayans) hit theaters making a staggering $215 million worldwide so far.

WME also now reps actress and comedian Ivy Wolk. Wolk first started making viral videos in 2017 at the age of thirteen, but her first onscreen breakout role was on the first season of the Freeform comedy series Everything’s Gonna Be Okay in 2020. However, she did not return for the second season. In 2022 Wolk had a minor role in Judd Apatow’s film The Bubble and then in 2023 appeared in Sean Baker’s Palm D’Or winning Anora. Following Anora Wolk started performing stand up comedy and appeared on the FX series English Teacher, and the films If I Had Legs I could Kick You, Outcome directed by Jonah Hill, and Netflix’s Roommates.  

Melissa Gorga is also a new sign for the agency. Gorga, an entrepreneur and businesswoman is best known for her role on The Real Housewives of New Jersey. She joined the show in 2011 and is the sister-in-law of other cast member Teresa Giudice. In addition to her reality TV star status, Gorga published a relationship self help book in 2013, started a jewelry line in 2016, a clothing boutique in 2015, and opened a restaurant with her husband Joe Gorga.   

At CAA:

Actor Leo Woodall is now agented by CAA. Woodall’s big claim to fame was as in the second season of HBO’s White Lotus. From there Woodall’s career has been on the upswing with a lead role in Netflix’s hit romantic drama series One Day. Last year he was the lead in Apple’s Prime Target and starred in the fourth Bridget Jones film Mad About the Boy opposite Renée Zellweger. Next up he will be in Andy Serkis’ Lord of the Rings prequel The Hunt For Gollum.

YouYuber Valkyrae (AKA Rachell Hofstetter) has also been signed by CAA. Hofstetter first appeared on the scene in 2020 on YouTube showing off her gaming content and has shot off like a rocket from there. She now boasts over 14 million followers across YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, and TikTok. She co-owns the gaming and lifestyle company 100 Thieves. Adweek named Hofstetter Gaming Creator of the Year in 2021 and has marketing partnerships with Crunchyroll, Gucci, Burberry, and Valentino. She is also one of the founders of anime and animation studio HiHi Studios.  

Former CBS newscaster Scott Pelley is also now repped by the death star. Pelley started at CBS news in 1989 and was the chief White House Correspondent for the outlet from 1997 to 1999. Last month Pelley was fired from CBS news and 60 minutes following disputes with the new management of the company. 

CAA has also signed British TV personality and radio presenter Sam Thompson. Thompson was featured on the series Made in Chelsea from 2013 to 2021, he also won the survival competition series I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! And is now the host of that series companion program I’m a Celebrity…Unpacked. Additionally Thompson co-hosts the podcast Staying Relevant.

At UTA:

Best selling author Karen Kingsbury is now repped by UTA. Kingsbury is the prolific author of roughly 100 novels, including a multigenerational family series about the Baxter family. Titles include Someone Like You, The Bridge, One Tuesday Morning, and even now. From 2004 onwards Kingsbury has been the top selling author in Christian fiction. Her son, Tyler Russell (also a new sign for UTA) has directed theatrical adaptations of her books including The Christmas Ring starring Ben Hollingsworth and Kelsey Grammar in 2025, and Someone Like You in 2024.

Filipino band SB19 is also a new sign for UTA. SB19 exploded onto the scene in 2018 and quickly amassed a huge following. The band boasts over one billion streams and their latest album Wakas at Simula was released this past March and hit six number one spots in Europe upon its release. SB19 is starting to make their way into the US with appearances this summer at Lollapalooza and Summer Sonic.

Comedian, actor, and podcaster Akaash Singh is also now repped by the agency. Singh’s self released specials Bring Back Apu and Gaslit were huge hits on YouTube garnering him a massive following leading to sold out shows at Radio City Music Hall and the Chicago Theater. As an actor Singh has made appearances on HBO’s The Leftovers, Guy Code, the improv series Wild n’ Out. He is currently on his Generational Triumph world tour. He was also the co-host of the podcast Flagrant. 

Speaking of Real Housewives case members…Lisa Barlow is also agented by UTA. Barlow is the founder of Vida Tequila and company LUXE Marketing. She is currently on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and has made appearances on the shows Sold on SLC, Worst Cooks: Reality Check, and Below Deck Down Under. She is set to appear on Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip.

OTHER NOTES AROUND TOWN

A few months ago actress, producer, and entrepreneur Jessica Alba switched up her agency and now she’s switching her management team to Untitled Entertainment. Alba’s breakout role was on the Fox series Dark Angel which then led her to prominent roles in such projects as two Fantastic Four movies and Sin City. She will next be seen in Maserati: The Brothers opposite Al Pacino and Anthony Hopkins and spy thriller The Mark starring Justin Chadwick. In 2024 she produced and starred in the action thriller Trigger Warning for Netflix. Additionally she is the host and producer of Roku’s reality series Honest Reservations. 

Multiple new signings at IAG include food and lifestyle creator Tommy Winkler, Cedric the Entertainer, and actress Crystal Renee Hayslett. Winkler started making viral videos about food but has since gone on to make YouTube content and hosts the podcast Don’t Ask with Jess and Tommy with his wife. Cedric rose to fame as a comic in the 1990s and has since gone on to have a successful acting career in movies. Most recently CBS’ The Neighborhood, which wrapped up in May after eight seasons. Hayslett broke out with the starring role in Tyler Perry’s Sistas which is wrapping up its final tenth season this year, but she will be back in spinoff series Zatima for Paramount+. 

Buchwald has signed Baron Davis. The former NBA star played with the New York Knicks, LA Clippers, Golden State Warriors, and Charlotte Hornets before retiring in 2016. Now Davis is a producer and actor. Producing the documentaries Crips and Bloods: Made in America, and 30 for 30: Sole Man.

Actress Jessica Blair Herman is now managed by Luber Roklin Entertainment. Herman has made appearances in How I Met Your Mother, Modern Family, Speechless, Fresh off the Boat, and How I Met Your Father. More recently she had a recurring role on season three of HBO’s Euphoria as Heather, Cassie’s (Sydney Sweeney) new friend. She will next appear in Netflix’s Nobody Wants This.

MUSIC NOTES

90s boy band mainstay 98 Degrees is now agented by Independent Artist Group. The band (consisting of Nick and Drew Lachey, Jeff Timmons, and Justin Jeffre) are best known for their hits “The Hardest Thing,” “Because of You,” and “Thank God I Found You.” They have sold over 15 million albums hitting Gold and Platinum and have consistently toured for the past three decades. Full Circle, their first studio album since 2017’s Let it Snow was released in 2023 and landed on iTunes top ten chart.

Country singer/songwriter Tucker Wetmore is now repped by Sandbox Entertainment. Wetmore hit the scene in 2020 with back to back chart topping “Wine into Whisky,” “Wind Up Missin’ You,” and last year released his third number one single, “Brunette.” Wetmore is currently on tour selling out shows all over the country and will make his debut at Red Rocks in October.

Management company Artists First has launched a music division headed up by manager Carmen Murray.  

SPORTS NOTES

MMA fighter Tom Aspinall is now agented by Matchroom Sport.

LIFT Management was the clear winner of the NBA draft with five first round picks: Tennessee Forward Nate Ament, Stanford Guard Ebuka Okorie, Kentucky Center Jayden Quaintance, Alabama Guard Labaron Philon Jr. and Iowa State Forward Joshua Jefferson.

Soccer coach Emma Hayes is now managed by the YMU Group. Hayes is the head coach for the U.S. Women’s national team.

CASTING NOTES

Some casting notes from Everything Everywhere All At Once filmmakers The Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert) have been revealed or leaked. Both Sean Kaufman and Michael Gandolfini have been cast in the secretive new film starring Matt Damon. Kaufman is best known for his work on Amazon’s The Summer I Turned Pretty, and Gandolfini is coming off of Daredevil: Born Again on Disney Plus. Not much is known about the film, except it’s an ensemble piece and is set to release November 2027.

Two new additions to Thunder Road have been announced, with Chase Stokes and Michael Rooker cast in AMC’s Nascar series starring Dennis Quaid. Stokes is best known for his work on Netflix’s Outer Banks. Rooker has had roles in the Guardians of the Galaxy films, The Suicide Squad, The Walking Dead among many others.

2006 film Aquamarine is getting a TV adaptation. The story involved wishes, friendship, and a mermaid. The movie starred Emma Roberts and the actress is set to exec produce and reprise her role. The pilot is written by Sarah Watson. 

PROJECT OF THE MONTH

In August of 2018 creature designer, writer, and artist Trevor Henderson created a bizarre massive skeletal creature with a siren for a head known as “Siren Head.” The creature became an internet sensation almost overnight with various fan media (YouTube videos, fan fiction, and merch) sprouting up over the next two years. The creature is now the subject of our project of the month which sparked a massive bidding war between five studios with Warner Brothers ultimately snapping up the project. 

It makes sense this would cause this reaction, Backrooms was similarly based on viral media created on the internet. But what makes this package so hot? It’s the talent behind it! Siren Head will be produced and co-written by Zach Cregger and Brian Duffield. Cregger is the writer/director behind last year’s smash hit Weapons and the upcoming Resident Evil adaptation. Duffield has been writing in the genre space with hits like Underwater and Spontaneous and has lots of positive buzz generating around Whalefall which will release in October starring Josh Brolin and Austin Abrams. 

Reports are saying that Duffield will be ultimately directing Siren Head, but no word on cast at this point in time.

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Sources: Deadline, Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap, Variety, Celebrity Access, Music Row, Billboard, Pollstar

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