Ayo Edebiri to write and potentially star in A24’s live-action ‘Barney’ movie
The Bear star Ayo Edibiri has signed a deal to write the screenplay for A24’s live-action adaptation of Barney, and is also in talks to star in the movie.
Daniel Kaluuya’s 59% Productions has been co-developing the project with A24 and Mattel Films, owner of the Barney the Dinosaur IP. Though Kaluuya has spearheaded the process, sources say the Oscar winner is not intending to star in the film. Plot details are being kept under lock and key at this point.
Edibiri’s profile in Hollywood has been growing ever since The Bear premiered in 2022. She recently voiced Envy in Inside Out 2, and her horror movie Opus is just around the corner. After that, she will be seen in Luca Guadagnino’s After the Hunt and James L Brooks’ Ella McCay.
The Barney movie has had a long road to get to this point. It was first announced in October 2019 as a subversive, A24-style take on the old Barney & Friends television show that ran on PBS for 14 seasons. However, this unique stylistic approach was later backtracked on.
One thing that is known, though, is that the movie is expected to be a different prospect than a cartoon reboot of the franchise which is also in development.
In October 2024, Mattel chief franchise officer Josh Silverman told Variety, “In the case here, the Barney film will be what it’s ultimately going to be, and this show, we felt that we want to remain consistent to the authenticity.”
The executive continued: “That’s really, really important. If it’s not authentic, we’re not going to do it. We want to remain consistent to the authenticity, the DNA of Barney, but we also want to modernise.”
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