In a major coup for UTA, recent hires Brian Swardstrom and Danie Streisand are bringing over the majority of their clients from WME, including Sam Taylor-Johnson, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Edward Norton, Ben Foster, Bill Paxton, Damian Lewis, Frances McDormand, Diane Lane, Emile Hirsch, Michael C. Hall and Tilda Swinton, TheWrap has learned.
Additionally, Jamie Bell, Scott Speedman, Ray Stevenson, Timothee Chalamet, Ben Rosenfield, Julia Garner, Jonathan Pryce, Agyness Deyn and Bill Heck will be following their agents from WME to UTA.
UTA had no comment.
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The group represents an impressive influx of talent for UTA, and their decision to follow Swardstrom and Streisand to their new home is a testament to the strength of their long-standing relationships with the agents.
The Taylor-Johnsons are working on two of the biggest projects in Hollywood right now, with Sam directing “Fifty Shades of Grey” and husband Aaron preparing to play Quicksilver in “The Avengers: Age of Ultron.” Meanwhile, Lane will reprise her role as Ma Kent in WB’s untitled “Man of Steel” sequel.
Norton co-stars in Wes Anderson’s next film “The Grand Budapest Hotel” and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s comedy “Birdman.”
Foster and Hirsch currently star in Peter Berg’s “Lone Survivor.” They also have high-profile biopics on the horizon, as Foster recently wrapped the role of Lance Armstrong, while Hirsch is gearing up to play John Belushi.
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Lewis and Hall recently departed their respective Showtime series “Homeland” and “Dexter,” though Hall stars in Jim Mickle’s Sundance-bound thriller “Cold in July.”
Swinton won’t be attending Sundance but her vampire picture “Only Lovers Left Alive” will screen at the festival. She also stars in “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Terry Gilliam’s “Zero Theorem” and the highly-anticipated sci-fi film “Snowpiercer.”
McDormand is currently filming HBO’s “Olive Kitteridge,” while Paxton has a trio of movies in the can, including WB’s “Edge of Tomorrow” with Tom Cruise, Disney’s “Million Dollar Arm” with Jon Hamm and the Jake Gyllenhaal indie thriller “Nightcrawler.”
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In the last two months, WME has signed Blake Lively, “Argo” scribe Chris Terrio, “Downton Abbey” star Michelle Dockery, “CBS Evening News” anchor Scott Pelley and YouTube stars Benny and Rafi Fine. The agency also won the bidding for IMG, which is the largest sports agency in the world.