Notes from the Rep Biz - 01-22-21

At CAA:
 
CAA has signed a range of talent in the past several weeks. Among those new to the fold are actresses Alexandra Shipp (X-Men franchise) and Madeleine Madden (Picnic at Hanging Rock), as well as actor Glen Powell (upcoming Top Gun reboot).
 
The agency has also signed acclaimed Brazilian filmmaker Walter Salles and Tony-winning playwright David Henry Hwang, and has welcomed Naomi Watts back after losing her briefly to WME.
 
CAA, along with musical agency Kraft-Engel, has landed breakout Tik Tok star Daniel J. Mertzlufft, the prodigy whose arrangements were behind the viral Ratatouille musical.
 
At WME:
 
WME saw three more agents depart the company, this time heavyweights in the lit department. Tanya Cohen, a rising star and strong advocate for women behind the camera, has left WME to join Range Media Partners. Solco Schuit and Simon Faber, who between them have repped clients ranging from Martin Scorsese and Dustin Hoffman to John Legend and Grimes, are also departing WME, although their respective destinations are still unknown.
 
At ICM Partners:
 
Tanner Buchanan, aka Robbie on Cobra Kai, as well as Bollywood star Deepika Padukone and British actor Jim Sturgess are all new signs for the agency.
 
At UTA:
 
UTA landed some fresh international talent in Hungarian filmmaker Lili Horvàt and South African star-on-the-rise Charlbi Dean (forthcoming Triangle of Sadness).
 
Elsewhere Around Town:
 
Echo Lake Entertainment has brought on Gersh agent Louise Keshaviah as a new manager.
 
Gersh, meanwhile, has signed UK showrunner Rachael New, while A3 Agency has signed actors Behzad Dabu (How to Get Away with Murder) and Nico Greetham (The Prom).
 
Verve has signed a pair of talented directors in Tom Bezucha (Let Him Go) and Susan Johnson (To All the Boys I've Loved Before).
 
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Variety