Noah Baumbach Signs First Look Deal With Warner Bros.; Sets New Theatrical Movie With Studio Label Clockwork (EXCLUSIVE)

Noted filmmaker Noah Baumbach is making a return to the big screen after a decade-long tenure at Netflix. The acclaimed director, known for his work on "Marriage Story" and "Frances Ha," has inked a new first look deal with Warner Bros.' new label, Clockwork. Warner Bros. will distribute Baumbach's next film, which he will write, direct, and produce.

Although details about the movie remain scarce, the project is set to be an original feature. Baumbach previously worked with Warner Bros. on the highly successful "Barbie" as a co-writer. The studio has been attempting to bring a sequel to life with Baumbach and Greta Gerwig, though progress is still ongoing. Gerwig's upcoming film "Narnia: The Magician's Nephew" is set to be a major theatrical release on Netflix, premiering in IMAX and traditional theaters globally in February.

Baumbach's first look deal with Warner Bros. commences in 2027. The filmmaker, who gained recognition with indie hits like "Kicking and Screaming" and "The Squid and the Whale," made his first film for Netflix in 2017 with "The Meyerowitz Stories." He followed up with the Oscar-winning "Marriage Story" in 2019, "White Noise" in 2022, and the George Clooney film "Jay Kelly" in 2025.

With this new deal, Baumbach will have his first theatrical release since 2015's "Mistress America" through Searchlight, although his documentary "De Palma" premiered in a limited release that same year. Baumbach is represented by CAA, JSSK, and Narrative, while Heyman is represented by Carlos Goodman and Eric Brooks of GGSSC, and LuckyChap by Entertainment 360, CAA, Attorney Jeff Bernstein & Narrative. The news was first reported by Variety.