Overview
- Warner Bros. says it has made multiple large offers but has not reached agreement with Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, and talent reps declined the studio’s most recent proposal in May.
- A central dispute is pay and profit participation, with reporting that Ryan Gosling is seeking about $20 million and that proposed backend bonuses would vest if the sequel hits specific box‑office milestones.
- Sources say Gerwig and co‑writer Noah Baumbach have a story idea for a sequel but are withholding it and will not begin writing until contracts are finalized, increasing the leverage of the creative team.
- The studio has until December 2026 to lock deals under its pact with Mattel, and failure to do so would let Mattel reclaim sequel rights and develop new films without using the current screenplay, cast, or director.
- Even if deals are struck, schedules and early development work mean a theatrical release would likely be years away, and the standoff highlights how the absence of sequel options in original contracts can force costly renegotiations.