Hollywood Talent Firm Verve Builds Success Through Specialization in Horror

Market Shift

Major studios recently started greenlighting genre projects based on internet lore and digital creators after box office success from Curry Barker's "Obsession" and Kane Parsons' "Backrooms." Leaders at the talent and literary firm Verve note that horror has long been a core area of focus for their business.

Deals and Revenue

Co-founders Adam Levine and Bryan Besser, along with agent Michael Bitar, have built a roster of horror creators and negotiated dozens of media rights sales in 2026. These transactions for writing, producing, directing, and acting clients have helped grow Verve's revenue by nearly 20 percent for a second consecutive year.

Major Auctions and Projects

Verve recently represented the rights holders in a heated auction for film and TV adaptive licenses to the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" franchise, drawing bids from multiple major studios before indie studio A24 secured the deal. Verve clients Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein directed "Final Destination: Bloodlines," which cost $50 million and earned nearly $320 million worldwide, leading to 12 development projects across Hollywood including "Gremlins 3" and "Metal Gear Solid."

Creator Expansions

Canadian illustrator Trevor Henderson sold his digital story "Siren Head" to Warner Bros. as a feature film to be co-written by Zach Cregger. Talent agent Josh Rahm also revived the career of Matthew Lillard through the "Five Nights at Freddy's" franchise and Amazon's "Carrie" series reboot, while producer Scott Glassgold established 12:01 Films to adapt short stories for film, television, and publishing.

Context

Talent agencies represent actors, writers, and directors in Hollywood, negotiating contracts and securing project deals with major movie studios and streaming platforms. Horror films remain a reliable box office draw because they typically require modest production budgets while offering high profit returns compared to big-budget blockbusters.