Greg Berlanti Signs With CAA
3 min read
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The showrunner behind some of Hollywood’s biggest shows is changing agencies. A contract has been signed by Greg Berlanti with CAA for representation in all areas of his business. Formerly of WME, where he spent 15 years, he created The CW’s Arrowverse and co-created Netflix’s You and produced My Policeman. For the past 15 years, Berlanti has been represented by Ari Greenburg at WME; now he’ll be represented by Bryan Lourd at CAA. The news comes as Warner Bros Discovery and Berlanti are in the middle of negotiating an extension of his $400 million overall deal.
As his current deal was made years before WarnerMedia-Discovery merged, it is unclear if he will do so. In that deal, Berlanti was given bonuses based on how many series he was able to secure. Since The CW’s sale to Nexstar, the prolific producer, who owns the record for most scripted originals on air or in development, has seen his volume of scripted originals decline. Nexstar has signalled its intention to pursue lower-cost scripted series as it tries to make The CW profitable as three of Berlanti Productions’ shows are ending this season – The Flash, Stargirl, and Riverdale.
Agency news: CAA signed producer Greg Berlanti. He was probably WME’s second biggest TV client after Dick Wolf. Big flex for Bryan Lourd, who has been after Berlanti for years.
— Matthew Belloni (@MattBelloni) December 22, 2022
Greg Berlanti Hollywood’s Most Prolific Showrunners Has Signed With CAA
Greg Berlanti has been signed by CAA for representation across all areas of TV show running. Writer, director, and producer Berlanti is nominated for numerous awards, WGA, DGA, PGA, and Emmys; he has only once switched agencies, leaving ICM for Endeavor (now WME), where he has been for almost two decades. Berlanti’s longtime TV home, Warner Brothers, is going through sweeping changes, which coincide with his move. As Berlanti negotiates with Warner Bros., the news comes as he has been in the middle of negotiations. His $400 million overall deal, signed in 2018, will be extended by Discovery. Given that his current deal was made years before WarnerMedia and Discovery merged, it is unclear if he will do so. In that deal, Berlanti received bonuses depending on how many series he was able to sell. The future role of Berlanti at DC Studios is also of growing concern, due to the studio’s new leadership and executives’ desire to better integrate its TV and film universes. HBO Max, the WBD-backed streamer that axed Berlanti’s Strange Adventures series, is also reworking a Green Lantern series with a new creative direction.
It is reported by The Hollywood Reporter that Berlanti, who turned 50 this year, is looking forward to his next phase in the industry and has enlisted the assistance of a team of agents. Since he joined Greenburg and WME 15 years ago, Berlanti is known for his loyalty. While Berlanti is moving to CAA, he is continuing to work in film with projects such as Amazon’s My Policeman, starring Harry Styles, and Apple TV+’s Project Artemis, in which he is directing Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum. With long-time producing partner Sarah Schechter, Berlanti/Schechter Films is currently in post-production on Red, White and Royal Blue for Amazon. Filming on Netflix’s Atlas, starring Jennifer Lopez, has just concluded. Moreover, Bryan Lourd at CAA will represent Berlanti. The agent also represents Ryan Murphy, making him the agent of two of TV’s most powerful and prolific showrunners. Several A-listers have left WME recently, including Charlize Theron and Michael Bay.
