Emma Roberts signs with UTA while Belletrist expands its TV slate
UTA signed actress, producer and entrepreneur Emma Roberts for representation. Deadline reported that Roberts continues to work across acting and producing through Belletrist, her literary-focused production company. Belletrist has produced Tell Me Lies and First Kill, and it has Calabasas set up at Netflix with Chris Van Dusen. The company also has One Fifth Avenue in development at Hulu, a Bride Wars reimagining for Peacock and Expiration Dates at Amazon MGM. Belletrist struck a first-look TV deal with Blink49 Studios in December.
THE BREAKDOWN
UTA is taking on Roberts as an owner of IP flow, not only as on-screen talent. Agents representing actors with book clubs, newsletters or fan communities should package those audiences into development deals before a studio asks for free access. The Belletrist model gives reps a way to negotiate producer fees, backend, first-look rights and acting attachments in one bundle. Brand managers should look at literary communities as high-trust acquisition channels for entertainment and lifestyle campaigns. If a talent-owned content brand already drives sales or adaptation interest, make sure the talent agreement separates personal endorsement rights from production company rights.
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