Daniel Kaluuya’s Barney Movie Is an ‘A24-Type’ Film That’s ‘Surrealistic’ and for Adults, Says Mattel Exec: ‘Not That It’s R-Rated’

With Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbies Barbie gearing up for box office domination this month, the movie is being eyed as a launching pad for Mattel Films. The studio has dozens of more films in the pipeline based on its toys and popular IP, including a Barney movie with Daniel Kaluuya. The Get Out Oscar nominee and Us star first attached himself to Mattels Barney movie in 2019, and a new profile of Mattel Films published by The New Yorker confirms the project remains in development.

Mattel Films executive Kevin McKeon told The New Yorker that the Barney movie is surrealistic and in the vein of films directed by Charlie Kaufman and Spike Jonze. Those directors are probably not the first two filmmakers one thinks of when the family-friendly Barney name comes up.

Were leaning into the Millennial angst of the property rather than fine-tuning this for kids, McKeon said. Its really a play for adults. Not that its R-rated, but itll focus on some of the trials and tribulations of being 30-something, growing up with Barneyjust the level of disenchantment within the generation.

McKeon also described the Barney movie as an A24-type movie, adding, It would be so daring of us, and really underscore that were here to make art.

When the project first got announced in November 2019, Mattel Films Robbie Brenner said that working with Kaluuya would allow the studio to take a completely new approach to Barney that will surprise audiences and subvert expectations.

Barney was a ubiquitous figure in many of our childhoods, then he disappeared into the shadows, left misunderstood, Kaluuya added at the time. Were 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.

Updates on the project have been scarce in the years since. Kaluuya told Yahoo Entertainment earlier this year it was taking time to crack the perfect script.

The scripts gotta be good, you know what I mean? Its in development, Kaluuya said. I ask for high standards on anything that I work on, and Im producing this one, so its still in development.

Visit The New Yorkers website to read more about Mattel Films and its upcoming development slate.