Thread regarding United States Layoffs layoffs

UPDATED 3/23: We are learning more about those affected by last week’s round of layoffs at WME. Among those leaving are two literary agents, Deadline has learned.

TV lit agent Bash Naran has been at WME since 2022. Before that, he was a literary manager and producer at Writ Large and a literary manager at Plattform.

Motion picture lit agent Niki Montazaran joined WME from ICM Partners in 2020. She began her career at Paradigm.

PREVIOUS MARCH 18: Days like today are never easy. As news of the round of layoffs at WME is getting around Hollywood, names are starting to emerge of agents affected by the cuts.

According to sources, among those leaving is established talent agent Elizabeth Wiederseim, whose career highs so far include repping Colman Domingo as he received Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations for Rustin and Leo Woodall as he transitioned from his breakout role on HBO’s The White Lotus to Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.

Also said to be impacted is Pierre-Elliott Denizard, who has been a talent agent at WME for five years. Julia Colares, who had been a talent agent for three years, parted ways with the agency a month ago, sources said. Both are home grown and were promoted to agent ranks at WME.

A number of layoffs also have been reported in the agency’s music department.

As Deadline reported earlier today, in WME’s first round of layoffs since the pandemic, the agency is eliminating 30 people, or 3% of the staff, across multiple offices, departments and levels of the talent agency.

We will update the story if/when more information on agent departures becomes available. WME had no comment.