United Talent Agency to acquire Cuba, Open Book owner Curtis Brown Group

McMafia was produced by Cuba Pictures

United Talent Agency in the US is acquiring UK-based Curtis Brown Group, the literary and talent agency that owns McMafia producer Cuba Pictures and Open Book Productions.

The two companies said the deal, financial details of which were not disclosed, will expand international opportunities for clients.

It also makes Curtis Brown Group the first prominent UK literary and talent representation group to join with a major global talent agency.

Under the terms of the deal, London-based Curtis Brown Group, founded in 1899, will continue to operate under its current name and management, including CEO Jonny Geller.

This structure will allow both Curtis Brown Group and UTA to continue their longstanding relationships with other agency partners in the UK and US.

The two companies said no staffing reductions are anticipated due to the transaction and Curtis Brown, which has more than 240 employees, “is expected to continue to grow as a result of this deal.”

They added: “The union is driven by a shared desire to ensure greater opportunities for clients across an increasingly global entertainment and culture landscape, in which traditional buyers and distributors such as studios and streaming services are expanding far beyond their home markets.”

UTA and companies in the Curtis Brown Group have collaborated for many years, while the two ventures share representation of screenwriters such as David Farr (The Night Manager, Hanna), Georgia Pritchett (Succession, Veep and The Shrink Next Door) and Tony Roche (Succession, The Thick of It).

The Pursuit of Love producer Open Book was founded by Charles Collier in 2018 as a joint venture between BBC Studios, The Curtis Brown Group and Tavistock Wood, while Cuba Pictures was set up in 2008 by Nick Marston and Tally Garner at Curtis Brown. It has since been behind shows such as Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell and McMafia.

David Kramer, co-president of UTA, said: “This move is about the vanishing borders of the global entertainment business and our united determination to ensure artists and creators remain at the heart of the opportunities ahead.

Geller added: “We have long admired UTA under the leadership of David Kramer and its CEO, Jeremy Zimmer. Curtis Brown’s deep understanding of the European market combined with their culture of collaboration and innovation offers our company and our clients many great opportunities.

“This partnership will allow Curtis Brown to grow and to respond to the demands of an increasingly globalised world. We have always prided ourselves on our ability to nurture new talent across all our departments and provide an open and inclusive culture, and we are excited to begin a new chapter in this wonderful company’s 123-year-old history.”