Barbie 2 may not be dead at Warner Bros. after all. The studio just signed Noah Baumbach to a three-year, first-look agreement for features, and here’s why that’s important for the Barbie sequel.
Variety reports that Baumbach will write, direct and produce his next film for Warner Bros.’ new indie label Clockwork. The deal, which takes effect in 2027, sees Baumbach depart Netflix, which he has called home since 2021.
Details are being kept under wraps, though sources familiar with the script say Baumbach’s inaugural Clockwork project follows two college students in New York City. The untitled film will receive a wide theatrical release.
Warner Bros. landing Baumbach is a pretty big deal, not just for Clockwork but for the studio as a whole. Last month, reports emerged that Warner Bros. Discovery was playing hardball with the cast and crew of Barbie, with CEO David Zaslav refusing to give massive pay bumps to director Greta Gerwig, Baumbach, who co-wrote Barbie with Gerwig, and lead stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.
However, this new deal suggests that Baumbach remains open to working with Warner Bros., possibly hinting at a resolution to the stalemate between the studio and the Barbie team. Of course, this is purely speculative at this time, as Variety’s report features no mention of the behind-the-scenes drama currently plaguing Barbie 2.
Baumbach’s untitled movie becomes the second confirmed project for Clockwork. The first will be Sean Baker’s follow-up to Anora, an Italian sex comedy called Ti Amo! set to film in January.
This is a developing story…
