Mattel CEO Ynon Kriez describes upcoming Daniel Kaluuya‘s ‘Barney‘ movie as “fun, entertaining, and culturally oriented” and assures that it won’t be unusual. The film will be aimed at adults with an “A24-type” style.
In an interview with Semafor, Kriez was asked why the focus wasn’t on the popularity of feminist culture with Barbie but instead on the idea of making a Barney biopic. Kriez replied, “It’s too early to be specific, but I can tell you we are taking a fresh approach that will be fun, entertaining, and culturally oriented. It will not be an odd movie.“
The Barney movie was initially revealed in 2019, but it was only when 59% Productions, co-owned by Kaluuya, joined as co-producers that it caught people’s attention. It seemed like it wouldn’t be just a children’s movie anymore, as Daniel described it as “heartbreaking.”
Kaluuya hinted at the film’s storyline in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, saying, “Barney was a ubiquitous figure in many of our childhoods, then he disappeared into the shadows, left misunderstood.” he added, “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.”
In June 2023, Kaluuya mentioned that the movie’s script is still being worked on. “The script’s gotta be good, you know what I mean?” he told Yahoo! Entertainment. “I ask for high standards on anything that I work on, and I’m producing this one, so it’s still in development.”
The release date for ‘Barney’ is to be announced (TBA).
