CAA will pursue legal action against UTA, as at least four additional agents are expected to defect across town, though the number could be as high as six, an individual with knowledge of the situation has told TheWrap.
Insiders tell TheWrap that CAA has cause to pursue legal action because some of the agents who left to become partners at UTA remain under contract. UTA had no comment regarding potential legal action.
As for the six additional agents who are rumored to be leaving CAA for UTA, TheWrap has learned of five notable dealmakers, though at least one is expected to remain at CAA.
CAA comedy agents Susie Fox and Rachel Rusch are expected to leave for UTA, multiple sources tell TheWrap, while Chelsea McKinnies is also poised to exit the agency. McKinnies is on the team that represents Anna Faris, wife of Chris Pratt, who agreed to follow his longtime agents Jason Heyman and Martin Lesak to UTA earlier Tuesday.
Younger CAA agents Ryan Abboushi and Matt Blake are also expected to join UTA, while John Sacks, who is relatively new to the agency, has also been rumored to be making the move, though not as loudly as his peers. Sources cautioned that none of the exits are confirmed yet, and as of right now, Fox, Rusch, McKinnies, Sacks, Abboushi and Blake are all CAA employees.
If all of those agents do end up leaving, CAA’s comedy department would be left decimated, as its clients include Donald Glover, Patton Oswalt, Cedric the Entertainer, Reggie Watts, Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Ken Jeong, Kumail Nanjiani and “Saturday Night Live” stars Aidy Bryant and Kyle Mooney.
Chelsea Handler’s manager Irving Azoff told TheWrap she will be staying at CAA as she fired agent Nick Nuciforo last year. Her current agents are Kevin Huvane and Jeffrey Azoff.
The CAA-UTA situation is extremely volatile at the moment as agents burn through their Rolodexes, so it remains to be seen what the situation will look like once the dust has settled.
15 Hollywood Stars Up for Grabs in CAA-UTA Talent Shakeup (Photos)
As five top agents left Creative Artists Agency on Tuesday, accepting partnerships at United Talent Agency, major clients are up for grabs. Take a look at the star-studded list, compiled by TheWrap.
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WILL FERRELL Ferrell most recently appeared with Kevin Hart in the $34 million-grossing comedy "Get Hard." Since this gallery first published, he has signed with UTA.
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MELISSA MCCARTHY The "Bridesmaids" star will topline the forthcoming Paul Feig comedy "Spy." Since this gallery first published, she has signed with UTA.
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JASON SUDEIKIS Sudeikis is a major comedy player with hits like "Horrible Bosses" and the forthcoming "Sleeping With Other People."
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JIM PARSONS The Emmy and Golden Globe winner is "The Big Bang Theory's" golden boy, with a salary to match.
CBS
SETH MEYERS NBC's late night host is digging his heels into the timeslot with the help of lead-in Jimmy Fallon.
NBC
ZOOEY DESCHANEL Deschanel's Fox comedy "New Girl" has just been renewed for a fifth season.
Fox
ED HELMS Helms will next pioneer a reboot of the "Vacation," franchise, made legendary by Chevy Chase.
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CHRIS PRATT Pratt made a major career crossover into leading man territory with "Guardians of the Galaxy," and will next be tasked with delivering a hit with "Jurassic World." Since this gallery first published, he has signed with UTA.
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JOHNNY KNOXVILLE Knoxville (pictured with comedy legend Don Rickles) commands the "Jackass" brand and occasionally ventures into high-brow comedy territory
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MINDY KALING A onetime UTA client before she departed for CAA, Kaling is in play. She's currently writer, producer and star of Fox's "The Mindy Project."
Fox
SARAH SILVERMAN Silverman just won an Emmy for her HBO comedy special "We Are Miracles!" and serves as guest star on Showtime's "Masters of Sex."
Comedy Central
LESLEY HEADLAND The up-and-comer scored amazing notices and broke VOD records for her 2013 comedy "Bachelorette." She directs the upcoming Jason Sudeikis comedy "Sleeping With Other People."
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GARRY MARSHALL An acting and directing icon, Marshall would be a prestige get for any agency. He last directed 2011's "New Years Eve."
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”We’re very confident that a number of the high profile clients will come with us,“ a UTA insider told TheWrap. Will Ferrell, Melissa McCarthy in contention
As five top agents left Creative Artists Agency on Tuesday, accepting partnerships at United Talent Agency, major clients are up for grabs. Take a look at the star-studded list, compiled by TheWrap.