Ayo Edebiri to Write and Star in Live-Action Barney Movie, Produced by Daniel Kaluuya
Move Over, Barbie—Barney Is Back and He’s Getting the A24 Treatment!
That’s right, folks. The big purple dinosaur who ruled our childhoods is making his live-action comeback, and Emmy-winner Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) is leading the charge—both in front of and behind the camera.
Ayo Edebiri to Write and Star in A24’s Bold New Take on Barney
According to The Hollywood Reporter Edebiri is set to write and star in A24’s Barney movie, with Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out, Nope) producing. And given A24’s track record of flipping nostalgia on its head (Eighth Grade, Everything Everywhere All at Once), don’t expect this to be your typical kiddie flick. This project has been in the works since 2019, when Mattel Films and Kaluuya’s 59% Productions first announced their plan to bring Barney back to the big screen.
From Childhood Icon to A24 Reinvention—What to Expect
For those who somehow missed out on the purple phenomenon, Barney & Friends ran from 1992 to 2009, following the ever-optimistic T-Rex as he sang and danced his way into children’s hearts, teaching life lessons along the way. But with names like Edebiri and A24 attached, we’re betting this isn’t the same ol’ Barney you grew up with. Kevin McKeon, Andrew Scannell, and Mattel head Robbie Brenner are also on board to produce, alongside Kaluuya and Rowan Riley.
Ayo Edebiri’s Hollywood Takeover Continues
Edebiri, fresh off her Emmy win for The Bear, has a packed schedule. She’ll next be seen in A24’s horror thriller Opus, James L. Brooks’ Ella McCay, and Luca Guadagnino’s After the Hunt. She’s also no stranger to the writing world, having worked on Dickinson and What We Do In the Shadows.
Will This Barney Movie Be Wholesome Nostalgia or a Mind-Bending Reimagining?
So, what kind of Barney movie are we in for? A wholesome nostalgia trip? A subversive take on childhood memories? A full-blown existential crisis wrapped in purple felt? One thing’s for sure—Ayo Edebiri is about to make us feel something about Barney. And we’re here for it.
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