Celebrity Name: Omari Hardwick
New Agency: Verve Talent & Literary Agency
Primary Agents: Ryan Muckenthaler, J.R. Ringer, Sean Grumman, Isaiah Williams, Rich Rogers
Previous Agency: United Talent Agency (UTA)
Department: Talent /Motion Picture & TV
Territory: Global, with a focus on U.S. film and television
- Omari Hardwick has signed with Verve Talent & Literary Agency, following his longtime agent Ryan Muckenthaler who made the move to Verve after 12 years at UTA.
- Hardwick brings a growing production slate through his company Bravelife Productions, signaling this deal is about more than just acting roles.
- He is currently in production on Bosch: Start of Watch for MGM+, and recently wrapped The Greatest on Prime Video, exec produced by Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society, where he plays Cassius Clay Sr.
- Hardwick has scored back-to-back Grammy nominations for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album (2025 and 2026), underscoring his multi-hyphenate reach across acting and the arts.
Omari Hardwick has officially signed with Verve Talent & Literary Agency for representation, as the actor steps into a busy new chapter on both the screen and in production.
The move follows his agent Ryan Muckenthaler, who recently joined Verve after more than a decade at UTA. Hardwick will be represented at the agency by Muckenthaler alongside J.R. Ringer, Sean Grumman, Isaiah Williams, and Rich Rogers.
On the TV side, Hardwick recently wrapped Season 1 of The Greatest on Prime Video, a drama about the early life of Cassius Clay, where he plays the boxing legend’s father, Cassius Clay Sr., in a project executive produced by Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society.
He’s also currently on set in Los Angeles for Bosch: Start of Watch, the MGM+ prequel series in which he plays veteran officer Eli Bridges alongside Cameron Monaghan. On the film side, Hardwick recently wrapped Empire City, a hostage thriller opposite Gerard Butler, where he plays the film’s antagonist.
This signing comes as similar industry moves make waves, including Josh Peck signing with Gersh and Zack Fox inking a deal with CAA.
Hardwick continues to be managed by Strand Entertainment and Vydia for music, with publicity handled by TS Collective.
Takeaways
This signing is a textbook example of talent following their trusted agent to a new home, and it tells us a lot about how representation loyalty actually works in Hollywood.
When Ryan Muckenthaler left UTA for Verve, it wasn’t just a career move for him, it was a signal to his entire client list. The fact that Hardwick followed speaks volumes about the strength of that relationship.
What’s also notable here is timing. Hardwick is arguably the busiest he has ever been: two major series, a big-budget theatrical film, a producing slate, and consecutive Grammy nods. Landing at Verve at this peak moment means the agency gets to ride that momentum, and Hardwick gets fresh infrastructure to help scale it.
With Verve landing Hardwick at this stage in his career, what does this say about how boutique-to-mid-tier agencies compete with the big four? Is this a sign we’ll see more UTA talent follow Muckenthaler to Verve in the coming months?
