Noah Baumbach has signed a first-look deal with Warner Bros., moving his next feature from Netflix to the studio’s Clockwork label. The agreement starts in 2027; Baumbach will write, direct and produce the original film, with David Heyman and LuckyChap attached as producers.
Plot details remain under wraps, but the move returns Baumbach to a conventional theatrical pipeline after nearly a decade of Netflix-first releases.
From streaming mainstay to theatrical slate
Baumbach’s Netflix run began with The Meyerowitz Stories in 2017 and continued with Marriage Story, White Noise and Jay Kelly. Early theatrical features such as The Squid and the Whale helped establish the character-driven style that Warner Bros. is now backing through Clockwork.
His last traditional theatrical feature was Searchlight’s Mistress America in 2015; the documentary De Palma received a limited release the same year.
Why the deal matters
Warner Bros. already has a Baumbach relationship through Barbie, which he co-wrote. The studio has said it is still exploring a sequel with Baumbach and Greta Gerwig. At the same time, Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is set for a major IMAX and traditional theatrical release via Netflix in February.
For executives tracking the streaming-theatrical balance, this is a useful signal: top filmmakers are using first-look deals to secure clearer theatrical windows while studios use labels such as Clockwork to build original-film slates around established names.
- Baumbach’s Warner deal begins in 2027, creating a multiyear pipeline rather than a one-off distribution arrangement.
- David Heyman and LuckyChap bring producer track records that can support both production and awards positioning.
- The arrangement leaves room for Warner/Netflix cross-currents, with Gerwig’s Narnia still highlighting Netflix’s theatrical ambitions.
The practical implications
A first-look deal gives Warner Bros. early access to Baumbach’s future projects, but it does not guarantee every project lands at the studio. For Baumbach, Clockwork distribution gives the next original film a theatrical commitment rather than a streaming-first release. That distinction shapes opening-weekend media plans, awards strategy and post-theatrical licensing timelines.
Media planners and entertainment marketers should treat this as an early indicator of where prestige audiences may cluster in 2027 and beyond. It also sets up a direct comparison: Netflix’s willingness to spend on major theatrical releases for select filmmakers versus Warner’s label-driven approach to talent.
Baumbach is repped by CAA, JSSK, and Narrative. Heyman is repped by Carlos Goodman and Eric Brooks of GGSSC. LuckyChap is repped by Entertainment 360, CAA, attorney Jeff Bernstein & Narrative.
Source: TheWrap
