Full Breakdown
Ari Emanuel’s Memoir Pulls Back the Curtain on Hollywood’s Power Brokers
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Revelations from *Roll the Calls*
In a memoir released in September 2026, veteran talent agent Ari Emanuel chronicles three decades of deal-making, from the CAA mailroom to his role as chairman of TKO Group Holdings, the parent of UFC and WWE. The book blends personal anecdotes with behind-the-scenes accounts of high-profile film productions, political client relationships, and an unconventional morning regimen that includes eating live worms.
Background & Context
Emanuel’s ascent places him at the nexus of entertainment, sports, and politics. *Roll the Calls* arrives amid a speaking tour that includes a televised interview with Rachel Maddow, during which he defended past alliances with former President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk while critiquing rival agency leadership.
Key Episodes Detailed in the Book
- **Studio clash over *The Departed*** – Warner Bros. executives feared an explicit Jack Nicholson scene, labeling it potentially pornographic.
- **Casting advice for *American Beauty*** – Emanuel warned studios would favor Annette Bening over Madonna; the film later earned five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
- Mark Wahlberg’s Cannes-night retaliation – After producer Harvey Weinstein allegedly sabotaged a 2000 Miramax film starring Wahlberg, the actor ordered multiple $10,000 bottles of Pétrus wine and charged them to Weinstein’s room.
- He later reflects that “January 6 changed things,” describing the Capitol attack as a turning point in his view of Trump.
- Unusual morning routine – A pre-dawn regimen of stretching, breath work, sauna, ice plunge, infrared light therapy, and live-worm consumption to “address bacteria in his gut.”
Official Statements & Responses
During the Maddow interview, Emanuel said his relationship with Musk has yielded modest influence, noting he “has changed him a little.” He defended a June UFC event held on the White House lawn, calling the footage “incredible videos on American history,” and criticized senior CAA leaders for “bad leadership” and reluctance to pass the reins.
Data & Statistics
Why It Matters
Emanuel’s revelations show how a single talent agent can shape casting decisions, mediate studio disputes, and influence political discourse through client relationships, offering a rare insider view of Hollywood’s power structures.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The anecdotes are presented primarily through Emanuel’s recollections. Independent verification of events such as the Cannes wine incident or Weinstein’s alleged outburst is not provided, leaving those details uncorroborated.
Verbatim Quotes
- “You don’t think people said at the time Nixon was the most dangerous president in all of U.S. history?” — Ari Emanuel
- “She’s a good actress, okay? She really is. But I know these guys — they’re not going to want to hear that you’re thinking Madonna,” — Ari Emanuel
- “I don’t think it’s productive to say I’ve never changed him,” — Ari Emanuel
- “I don’t agree with Elon [on immigration],” — Ari Emanuel
- “I’m having my own problems with NBC,” — Donald Trump, president