Ari Emanuel’s ‘fiery, furious’ memoir to be released this fall

Hollywood Power Broker Ari Emanuel Set to Release Memoir This Fall

Ari Emanuel, one of Hollywood’s most influential agents and power brokers, will publish his memoir “Roll the Calls” this September, offering readers an unfiltered look into his storied career and personal challenges.

Announced Thursday by Alfred A. Knopf, the memoir promises a candid account from the man whose client roster has included entertainment giants like Martin Scorsese and Oprah Winfrey, as well as Donald Trump before his presidential career. Emanuel, 64, is perhaps best known to the public as the real-life inspiration behind the character Ari Gold in HBO’s hit series “Entourage.”

The forthcoming book, scheduled for release on September 22, has been developed with acclaimed ghostwriter J.R. Moehringer, who previously collaborated on bestselling memoirs with Prince Harry and tennis star Andre Agassi.

“For the first time, the agent, the mogul, the iconic power broker speaks for himself, about himself, and about the game of life, often at the top of his lungs,” reads the publisher’s announcement. Knopf describes it as a “fiery, furious memoir” and promises readers “a wilder, more relatable ride than any episode of ‘Entourage,’ because it’s real.”

Emanuel’s memoir will trace his trajectory to becoming one of the entertainment industry’s most powerful figures, detailing his struggles with dyslexia and his upbringing in what the publisher calls a “success-obsessed” family. His brother, Rahm Emanuel, served as White House chief of staff under President Obama and is currently the U.S. Ambassador to Japan.

“As a kid, I was often told I’d amount to nothing. Thank God I didn’t listen because I’ve now worked with so many brilliant writers, directors, actors, artists, journalists, entrepreneurs and investors,” Emanuel said in a statement accompanying the announcement.

The super-agent’s influence extends far beyond Hollywood. As CEO of Endeavor, Emanuel oversees a global entertainment, sports, and content company that represents thousands of clients and owns the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). His career has seen him build and transform multiple talent agencies, eventually creating one of the most powerful entertainment companies in the world.

Industry insiders expect the memoir to provide unprecedented insight into the often opaque world of entertainment deal-making. Emanuel’s aggressive negotiation style and strategic vision have made him a controversial but undeniably successful figure in an industry known for its cutthroat competition.

“From them, and from bitter experience, I’ve learned a lot about success and failure, creativity and persistence. Especially persistence,” Emanuel added in his statement. “My story is for everyone who feels doubted and especially for that person who’s been told to give up, just quit. If there’s one major theme it’s that every time someone tells you to pack it in, you’re not good enough, you should tell that person to [expletive] off.”

The memoir arrives at a time of significant transformation in the entertainment industry, with streaming platforms reshaping content creation and distribution, and talent agencies evolving their business models. Emanuel has been at the forefront of navigating these changes, making his perspective particularly valuable to industry observers.

Literary critics anticipate that “Roll the Calls” will join the ranks of notable Hollywood memoirs that provide both entertainment and valuable business insights. The collaboration with Moehringer, whose work on previous memoirs has been praised for capturing authentic voices while crafting compelling narratives, suggests the book will balance candor with literary quality.

Pre-orders for “Roll the Calls” are expected to begin in the coming weeks, with industry analysts predicting strong sales given Emanuel’s prominence and the public’s enduring fascination with Hollywood’s inner workings.