The book recounts the Hollywood agent and WME Group CEO’s extraordinary tenure in the entertainment industry
Credit: Lorenzo Bevilaqua; Knopf
NEED TO KNOW
- Bob Odenkirk will narrate the audiobook of Ari Emanuel’s memoir Roll the Calls
- The book explores Emanuel’s career as a top Hollywood agent for A-list celebrities like Billie Eilish and Martin Scorsese
- “Ari’s been my agent, my friend, since the days of Mr. Show, and he’s always been a character, but I didn’t realize how much until I read his whole crazy story,” Odenkirk says
Bob Odenkirk is lending his voice to a very Hollywood story.
The actor and screenwriter, 63, will narrate the audiobook of Ari Emanuel’s upcoming memoir Roll the Calls, PEOPLE can exclusively announce. The audiobook will be available this fall through Random House Audio.
Emanuel’s anticipated book traces the life of the agent, TKO Group Holdings executive and WME Group CEO, known as the inspiration for Entourage character Ari Gold. Roll the Calls gives an all-access look into Emanuel’s starry career, where he’s represented A-listers including Martin Scorsese, Oprah Winfrey, Billie Eilish, Denzel Washington and more.
Credit: Lorenzo Bevilaqua/Penguin Random House
Roll the Calls also relays stories from Emanuel’s personal life, including his struggle with severe dyslexia, navigating a “failing marriage,” taking on fatherhood and finding love again, per the book’s synopsis.
“I had the best time recording the audiobook for Ari Emanuel’s amazing memoir, Roll the Calls,” Odenkirk tells PEOPLE. “And when Ari came to the studio to watch me do the last pages, we both got choked up, because we’ve known each other forever, and because: Life!”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Recording the book was also an important experience for Odenkirk, who has had a long working relationship with Emanuel.
Need your next page-turner? See which books our editors can’t put down with our People Who Read newsletter — plus get PEOPLE News.
“Ari’s been my agent, my friend, since the days of Mr. Show, and he’s always been a character, but I didn’t realize how much until I read his whole crazy story,” the actor continues. “It’s really the perfect book for this moment in which we find ourselves, because it shows how you have to be a little crazy to survive this crazy world.”
Odenkirk is the author of several books himself. In 2022, he published his memoir Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama, which recounts some of his biggest roles, like Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad. The following year, Odenkirk debuted his children’s book Zilot & Other Important Rhymes, illustrated by his daughter, Erin.
Roll the Calls will be published on Sept. 22, 2026 and is now available for preorder, wherever books are sold.
We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.
Read the full article here
