Two of Hollywood’s biggest talent agencies have announced plans to merge in a power play that attempts to shift leverage from movie studios and record labels back to artists, actors, writers and directors.
The 111-year-old William Morris Agency said Monday it will join with upstart Endeavor, a 14-year-old agency cofounded by Ari Emanuel, brother to White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and the inspiration behind the character Ari Gold on HBO’s “Entourage.”
The combined entity will be called William Morris Endeavor Entertainment and have revenue in the range of $250 million to $300 million a year. Layoffs are expected, perhaps affecting more than 100 people.
The move is also intended to help the companies survive a downturn that has caused movie studios to slash production, while record labels have been paring down rosters to cope with the decline in music sales.
William Morris has about 800 employees and a foothold in all entertainment fields from movies and books to TV, but an especially strong representation in music, with clients including Kanye West, Lady Gaga and Brooks & Dunn.
Meanwhile, Endeavor, with under 250 workers, has secured an up-and-coming roster of stars such as Javier Bardem and Sacha Baron Cohen along with producers Larry David of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and Josh Schwartz of “Chuck.”
William Morris Chairman Jim Wiatt will retain his title at the combined company. Dave Wirtschafter will shift from president to co-CEO with Endeavor’s Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell.
William Morris will have five members to Endeavor’s four on a nine-member board.
The merger requires the approval of antitrust authorities but is expected to close in the second quarter.
In a sign of changing times, movie studios have recently been demanding that actors reduce their upfront salary guarantees by as much as half and instead participate in back-end profits if th e movie is a hit.
The days of huge advances for musicians have also largely ended as sales of compact discs have plummeted and digitally downloaded tunes have failed to make up the difference.
The merger means the new entity will be on a closer footing with Creative Artists Agency, which is often cited as the largest, though the agencies keep their books closed.
The third-largest Hollywood talent agency remaining will be International Creative Management.
Utah Leaders and Locals Rally To Keep Sundance Film Festival In The State
With the 2025 Sundance Film Festival underway, Utah leaders, locals and longtime attendees are making a final push — one that could include paying millions of dollars — to keep the world-renowned film festival as its directors consider uprooting.
Thousands of festivalgoers affixed bright yellow stickers to their winter coats that read "Keep Sundance in Utah" in a last-ditch effort to convince festival leadership and state officials to keep it in Park City, its home of 41 years.
Gov. Spencer Cox said previously that Utah would not throw as much money at the festival as other states hoping to lure it away. Now his office is urging the Legislature to carve out $3 million for Sundance in the state budget, weeks before the independent film festival is expected to pick a home for the next decade.
It could retain a small presence in picturesque Park City and center itself in nearby Salt Lake City, or move to another finalist — Cincinnati, Ohio, or Boulder, Colorado — beginning in 2027.
"Sundance is Utah, and Utah is Sundance. You can't really separate those two," Cox said. "This is your home, and we desperately hope it will be your home forever."
Last year's festival generated about $132 million for the state of Utah, according to Sundance's 2024 economic impact report.
Festival Director Eugene Hernandez told reporters last week that they had not made a final decision. An announcement is expected this year by early spring.
Colorado is trying to further sweeten its offer. The state is considering legislation giving up to $34 million in tax incentives to film festivals like Sundance through 2036 — on top of the $1.5 million in funds already approved to lure the Utah festival to its neighboring... Read More