Noah Baumbach is moving his filmmaking business to Warner Bros. The Oscar-nominated writer and director has signed a three-year, first-look agreement for feature films with the Burbank studio, ending a long exclusive partnership with Netflix.
The deal, which takes effect in 2027, gives Warner Bros. the first opportunity to produce and distribute Baumbach's next projects. His inaugural film under the new pact will be a theatrical release made under Clockwork, a studio label. The move signals a significant shift for Baumbach, who had been closely associated with Netflix during a period that produced some of his most acclaimed work.
Baumbach is known for films including «Marriage Story», «The Squid and the Whale», and «White Noise». His partnership with Netflix yielded multiple awards-season contenders and gave him creative latitude on projects that might have struggled to secure traditional studio backing. The new agreement with Warner Bros. suggests a return to the theatrical ecosystem for a filmmaker whose work has often premiered at major festivals before heading to streaming platforms.
Warner Bros. has been actively courting established auteurs in recent years, seeking to bolster its theatrical slate with prestige projects that can attract both critical praise and audience attention. The studio's Clockwork label appears designed to house filmmaker-driven features, giving directors like Baumbach a dedicated home within the larger corporate structure. The first-look arrangement means Warner Bros. will have the right of first refusal on Baumbach's next three years of feature projects, though the specific terms of the deal were not disclosed.
For Baumbach, the move represents a homecoming of sorts. His early films were distributed by independent labels and smaller studios before he entered the Netflix fold. The theatrical component of the Warner Bros. deal is particularly notable given the industry's ongoing debate over the viability of mid-budget adult dramas on the big screen. By committing to a theatrical release for his first project under Clockwork, Baumbach and Warner Bros. are signaling confidence in the enduring appeal of filmmaker-driven cinema.
The deal also raises questions about the broader landscape of filmmaker-studio relationships. Netflix has been aggressive in signing top-tier directors to exclusive deals, but Warner Bros. and other legacy studios have recently pushed back by offering theatrical guarantees and traditional distribution models. Baumbach's decision to leave Netflix for Warner Bros. could be seen as a bellwether for other filmmakers weighing the trade-offs between streaming reach and theatrical prestige.
Details about Baumbach's first Clockwork project, including its title, cast, and production timeline, have not been announced. The three-year agreement begins in 2027, meaning Baumbach's next film could arrive in theaters in late 2027 or 2028, depending on development and production schedules. The filmmaker is also known for his collaborations with Greta Gerwig, with whom he co-wrote «Barbie» and «Frances Ha». Whether those creative partnerships will continue under the new deal remains to be seen.
Warner Bros. has not commented publicly on the financial terms of the agreement. The studio is expected to announce further details about its Clockwork label and its slate of filmmaker-driven projects in the coming months. For now, Baumbach's move marks one of the more significant filmmaker deal shifts of the year, underscoring the ongoing competition among studios and streamers for top directorial talent.