Daniel Kaluuya and Mattel are teaming up to make a live-action Barney the Dinosaur movie.
The Oscar nominated star of Get Out will produce the film based on the children’s TV character who hosted Barney & Friends from 1998 to 2009.
“Barney was a ubiquitous figure in many of our childhoods, then he disappeared into the shadows, left misunderstood,” said Kaluuya. “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.”
Specifics of the plot are yet to be revealed but Mattel Films’ Robbie Brenner has stated that the film will take some unexpected turns. “Working with Daniel Kaluuya will enable us to take a completely new approach to Barney that will surprise audiences and subvert expectations,” said Brenner. “The project will speak to the nostalgia of the brand in a way that will resonate with adults, while entertaining today’s kids.”
The project joins a number of other major films in development from the toy company. Earlier this year, it was announced that Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach will co-write the script for a new film based on Barbie set to star Margot Robbie. To All the Boys I Loved Before star Noah Centineo is also starring as He-Man in a new take on Master of the Universe while films based on the Magic 8 ball and View-Master toys are also in the offing.
Since scoring an Oscar nomination for his role in Jordan Peele’s hit horror Get Out, Kaluuya has ben seen in Widows and Black Panther. He will next be seen in crime drama Queen and Slim which will open this year’s AFI festival in November. He’s also attached to fact-based drama Jesus Was My Homeboy, which will tell the story of Black Panther party member Fred Hampton.
