Daniel Kaluuya teased his Barney film would be odd, but the Mattel CEO is walking that back a bit.
Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz weighed in on the Kaluuya-led Barney, giving fans a little glimpse into the early creative process by revealing: “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.”
This goes with another interview the CEO had recently. Speaking with The New Yorker, “We’re leaning into the millennial angst of the property rather than fine-tuning this for kids,” McKeon said in the interview. “It’s really a play for adults. Not that it’s R-rated, but it’ll focus on some of the trials and tribulations of being thirtysomething, growing up with Barney—just the level of disenchantment within the generation.”
Mattel is preparing for a theatrical takeover after Barbie and now this upcoming Barney film. The announced projects include a Polly Pocket film by Lena Dunham starring Lily Collins, a Hot Wheels film with J.J. Abrams, a Matchbox Cars project with Skydance, and Vin Diesel with Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots.
Barbie is looking to head Mattell into this new era with high esteem; the Greta Gerwig-helmed film is the highest-grossing of 2023 and is looking to strut to the 2024 Oscars.
Originally published October 6, 2023. Updated October 5, 2023.
