Yes, it’s real. A24 is making a live-action “Barney” movie.
The purple dinosaur, who built an empire on the mantra “I love you, you love me,” is getting the big-screen treatment courtesy of actress Ayo Edebiri, who is writing the screenplay and will also star.
Daniel Kaluuya, who was originally attached to lead the film, remains on board as a producer through his 59% Productions banner. Whether he’ll still appear in front of the camera now that Edebiri is in the mix is unclear.
According to TheInSneider, Edebiri has already turned in a “banger” of a script, which reimagines the franchise with a story about a group of people who magically stumble into Barney’s world via an old episode of the show. No, this won’t be some ironic A24 horror riff or Charlie Kaufman-esque meta commentary. Both Edebiri and Kaluuya reportedly want to capture the earnest, wide-eyed spirit of the original series.
A director has yet to be announced, but given A24’s involvement and Edebiri’s rising star power, this one is going to generate plenty of curiosity. Don’t be surprised if we start hearing more announcements very soon.
For those too young to remember, Barney & Friends was a PBS staple, running for 14 seasons between 1992 and 2010. At its peak, Barney was a cultural juggernaut, inspiring toys, albums, endless VHS tapes, and more than a few parental nightmares.
The project is being produced by A24, Mattel Films, and Kaluuya’s 59% Productions. After the billion-dollar success of Barbie, Mattel clearly hopes Barney can be the next piece of IP to break out theatrically.