Notes From the Rep Biz ~ 6/19/2026

French filmmaker Sébastien Vaniček is also a new sign for the agency. The deranged mind behind spider horror film Infestation which premiered at the 2024 Fantastic Fest and won Best Film and Best Director. Vaniček was tapped by Sam Raimi and producing partner Rob Tapert to direct the latest in the Evil Dead franchise, Evil Dead: Burn which will premiere on July 10th.

WME has also signed comedian Caitlin Peluffo. Peluffo was a featured performer on Kevin Hart’s comedy competition series Funny AF and made the finals on that series and will also be a featured performer on Nikki Glaser’s latest tour. Her full length special Prosciutto Rose premiered on YouTube on June 11th. Outside of comedy, Peluffo is also an athlete and played soccer on Mia Hamm’s team in The Goal Cup.  

Young Moriarity himself, Dónal Finn is also now repped by WME. Finn is best known for his breakout role as James Moriarity opposite Hero Fiennes Tiffin’s Sherlock Holmes on Prime’s hit show Young Sherlock. The actor also plays Mr. Hayward in BBC’s The Other Bennet Sister and has made appearances on Netflix’s The Witcher, Prime’s The Wheel of Time, and Cursed.

At CAA:

CAA now reps journalist and newscaster Lesley Stahl. Stahl has been a longtime producer at CBS news, starting there in 1971 and was the first woman to be a White House Correspondent for the outlet. Since 1991 Stahl has been with CBS news’ weekly magazine 60 Minutes. 

TikToker Reece Feldman is also a new sign for the Death Star. Feldman came to fame on TikTok with his guywithamoviecamera channel. At the time he was a production assistant on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel where he would interview celebrities and report on Hollywood news. And now he reports at events such as the Oscars, Emmy’s, and Golden Globes. In 2025 he was featured on Time’s 100 Creators and he wrote and directed the short film Wait, Your Car? which premiered at the 2025 Cannes film festival. 

Country western crossover duo Florida Georgia Line is now agented by CAA. The band first came to prominence in 2010. In 2012 their second EP It’z What We Do charted on the Billboard Top Country albums. From there they became one of the most successful country acts in history. In 2022 Florida Georgia Line (composed of duo Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley) took a break, but this past week they made a surprise appearance at CMA fest and announced their reunion. Described as “bro country” which combines country music, arena rock, and rap.

Actress Marisa Abela is also a new sign for the agency. Abela is best known for playing Yasmin on HBO’s Industry where her fiery performance has earned her many accolades including the 2025 BAFTA Television Award for Best Actress. Additional credits include starring as Amy Winehouse in the biopic Back to Back. Next up she will be appearing in Highlander (a remake of the 1986 cult classing) starring Henry Cavill, Russell Crowe, and directed by Chad Stahelski.  

At UTA:

Lovie Simone has signed with UTA. Simone started her career at 17 with a starring role on the OWN series Greenleaf. From there she has had roles in 2018’s Monster, The Craft: Legacy, and starred in the film Selah and the Spades which premiered at Sundance in 2019. She is currently starring on Netflix’s Forever based on Judy Blume’s 1975 novel.

Rapper Slayr is also now agented by UTA. Slayr comes from the underground internet world, posting his music to Discord and in 2021 his song “Fourth Gear Cypher” went viral. In 2023 the rapper was noticed for his mixtapes, particularly his third release Gaia. Last year Slayr not only released his sixth mixtape Half Blood, but also was signed to a major deal with Colombia Records. This past March Slayr was the opener for Yeat during his Love/Lyfe tour. Slayr belongs to the rage rap genre and incorporates mythological themes in his music. He will also be featured in the upcoming The Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash festival.

OTHER NOTES AROUND TOWN

Grace from Will and Grace now has a new agent! Debra Messing is now repped by Paradigm. Messing’s played the titular Grace on the long-running sitcom Will and Grace which ran for 8 seasons (from 1998 to 2005) and then was revived in 2017 for another three seasons. During Will and Grace’s run Messing won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a comedy in 2003. In 2007 Messing starred in and produced the mini series The Starter Wife for USA, for which the actress was nominated for an Emmy, SAG Award, and Golden Globe. Messing most recently appeared opposite Robert De Niro in The Alto Knights.

Paradigm agent Jeff Kolodny has moved to Cognition as a manager. It is unclear who among his clients will be joining him in the new gig, but his list includes: Liv Morgan, Paul Soter, and Eloise Mumford.

Natalie Palamides is now managed by Brillstein Entertainment Partners. Palamides got her start in the improv comedy scene in Los Angeles at the Upright Citizens Brigade. She wrote and acted in various sketches which led to the creation of her one woman show Nate - A One Man Show where Plamides played the masculine character Nate and wrestled the audience. The show went to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2018 and was then turned into a Netflix special in 2020. Weer, her most recent one woman show, premiered in New York City in 2025. Palamides has also been in various commercials including a regular appearance on  Progressive ads and voiced Buttercup in the reboot of The Powerpuff Girls.

MUSIC NOTES

Singer and songwriter Jamila Woods is now repped by ROAM. Hailing from Chicago, Woods’ started her career writing poetry, publishing her first chapbook in 2012. Following her graduation from college she started the soul group Milo & Otis (AKA M&O). On their first album Chance the Rapper appears in the song “Lift Up.” Woods would go on to collaborate a few more times with Chance the Rapper on the songs “Sunday Candy” and “Blessings.” She was also featured on the Mackelmore & Ryan Lewis song “White Privilege II.” Last month she released the collaborative EP Spring/Clarion with Tasha and L’Rain. She is scheduled to perform at the 517 Juneteenth Festival this weekend.

SPORTS NOTES

Athletes First has signed Denver Broncos Wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr.

MMA Fighter Nassourdine Imavov is now agented by LSM Prod.

Washington Wizards forward Julian Reese is now repped by LIFT Sports.

CASTING NOTES

Sydney Sweeney’s newly minted production company Honey Trap has landed its first project. Lindsey Anderson Beer is set to write and direct Hollow which will also star Sweeney (she will also produce). The story, based on the novel of the same name, is a retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow but as a supernatural romance and from the perspective of Katrina Van Tassel.

Hot off the success of Obsession, Curry Barker’s followup Anything But Ghosts has added Chris Reinacher to its cast. Much like Barker, Reinacher comes from the world of YouTube, but has also made appearances on The Mindy Project and Superstore. Other members of the Anything But Ghosts cast include Barker’s longtime collaborator Connor Tomlinson (who also co-wrote the film), Aaron Paul, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Violet McGraw. The film is set in the same world as Obsession and will follow two fake paranormal investigators who have to deal with actual ghosts.

And speaking of Obsession, co-star Megan Lawless has been cast in the film Ping. The psychological thriller will follow a young woman who joins a wellness start up. Ping is written and directed by Richie Gordon. Previously, Lawless has had roles in Table 19, The Hate U Give, and The Girl From Plainville.

Well, that didn’t even take a month! Sophie Fleur De Bruijn’s hot spec One Month Mark has landed at Apple with Jennifer Lawrence set to star and produce. The script has been dubbed one of the best romantic comedies in years and sparked a bidding war recalling the spec boom of the 1990s. No word yet on other cast members or a director.

ARTIST OF THE MONTH

It’s rare for a newcomer to headline one franchise, but our artist of the month is headlining two! Mason Thames first broke through to audiences with 2021’s horror film The Black Phone opposite Ethan Hawke and directed by Scott Derrickson. With his celebrated and scary performance, Thames shot up with one high profile project after another. First up, the sequel to The Black Phone, Black Phone 2 in 2025, also directed by Derrickson and starring Hawke. Then he played another franchise opener as Hiccup in the How to Train Your Dragon live action remake – also in 2025. But Thames’ 2025 wasn’t finished as he also starred in the Colleen Hoover adaptation Regretting You opposite McKenna Grace. Thames will also reprise his role as Hiccup in How to Train Your Dragon 2 set for 2027.

Thames’ naturalistic approach to his characters endears him to audiences which has allowed him to comfortably lead two franchises; one horror and one family friendly. 

But what’s better than two franchises? Three! Thames was just announced as the latest cast member of Caine, the John Wick spinoff film directed and starring martial arts superstar Donnie Yen. The film will follow the events of John Wick Chapter 4 continuing blind assassin Caine’s journey with Rina Sawayama also starring. 

Action, horror, romance, drama, and high flying adventure…the sky’s the limit for where Thames will take his career next. 

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

Click HERE to have Notes From the Rep Biz delivered to your inbox!

Want a news item listed in Notes From the Rep Biz? Simply email [email protected] and it will appear in the next issue!