The beloved purple dinosaur with his super upbeat attitude is heading to theaters thanks to Emmy and Golden Globe winner Ayo Edebiri from The Bear.
Almost five years after news first dropped that Get Out and Nope actor Daniel Kaluuya was producing a live-action movie about the main character from Barney & Friends, we’ve learned that Edebiri will write the screenplay and is “in talks to star” in the film. The project is being developed by Mattel Films, Kaluuya’s 59% Productions, and A24.
Complex has reached out to Edebiri’s rep for comment. This story might be updated.
While we don’t have many other details about the production yet, Kaluuya has been openly enthusiastic about the project. When he first announced the film back in 2019, he highlighted how the famous character has been “misunderstood.”
“Barney was a ubiquitous figure in many of our childhoods, then he disappeared into the shadows, left misunderstood,” the Oscar-winning actor said at the time. “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.”
No release date has been announced yet. Edebiri’s 2025 lineup features the Sundance hit Opus with John Malkovich, Luca Guadagnino’s After the Hunt starring Julia Roberts, and the fourth season of FX’s massive success The Bear. As for Barney, he was reportedly enjoying his “self-care era” earlier this month.
