United Agents, a British agency that represents Kate Winslet and Ricky Gervais, is fueling sales speculation with a public company move

EXCLUSIVE: The talent agency scene in the UK has exploded since UTA acquired the Curtis Brown Group last year.

Now a move by rival United Agents, which represents Kate Winslet, Olivia Colman, Ricky Gervais and Kit Harington, has fueled that fire.

The agency was founded in 2007 by a number of former Peters Fraser and Dunlop (PFD) agents and is now a public company. Previously it was a limited liability company.

Last week’s financial deal sparked a new wave of takeover rumors as UK agencies become the new playthings of major US talent agencies.

In June, UTA acquired Curtis Brown, who represents Robert Pattinson, Stanley Tucci and Margaret Atwood.

Next, eyes will be on CAA and WME owners Endeavor to see if they follow suit and buy into the London talent scene with deals for companies such as United Agents and Independent Talent Group.

We’re hearing that some want to sell to United Agents while others are against it, so it could be an interesting few months.

Becoming known would likely facilitate the sale, but sources close to United Agents suggest that was not the reason for the deal. There are reportedly no staff changes as a result of the move and it will continue as usual.

United Agents has a strong client list of actors including James Corden, Taron Egerton, Luke Evans, Tom Hardy, Charlie Cox, Phoebe Dynevor, Keira Knightley, Rosamund Pike, Eddie Redmayne, Matthew Rhys, Kathleen Turner and Kate Walsh. It also represents writers and directors such as Richard Curtis, Emerald Fennell and Sharon Horgan and has a solid literature and book business.