*Daniel Kaluuya is set to star in and produce an adult-themed movie about Barney, the beloved purple dinosaur.
“We’re leaning into the millennial angst of the property rather than fine-tuning this for kids,” said Mattel executive Kevin McKeon to The New Yorker in an interview. “It’s really a play for adults. Not that it’s R-rated, but it’ll focus on some of the trials and tribulations of being 30-something, growing up with Barney — just the level of disenchantment within the generation.”
McKeon described the “A24-type” movie as “surrealistic” and said Barney will “[Take] the tale of the talking purple dinosaur in this direction to underscore that Mattel is ‘here to make art.’”
Kaluuya recently shared with Yahoo UK that the film remains “in development.”
“The script’s gotta be good, you know what I mean?” he said.
He told The Hollywood Reporter in 2019 that Barney was a “ubiquitous figure in many of our childhoods” that was “left misunderstood.”
“He disappeared into the shadows, left misunderstood,” the actor said. “We’re excited to explore this compelling modern-day hero and see if his message of ‘I love you, you love me’ can stand the test of time.”
Mattel Films’ executive Robbie Brenner gushed about working with the “Nope” star.
“Working with Daniel Kaluuya will enable us to take a completely new approach to Barney that will surprise audiences and subvert expectations. The project will speak to the nostalgia of the brand in a way that will resonate with adults, while entertaining today’s kids.”
In related news, the ’90s children’s show returns next year with a new animated Barney series. Per Deadline, it will “center around the ubiquitous purple dinosaur and friends, introducing new audiences to the world of Barney through music-filled adventures centered on love, community and encouragement.”
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