As Marvel’s influence starts to die down in the industry, other IP factories are taking advantage of a possible void having to be filled.
There’s Nintendo with their highly successful ‘Super Mario’ and other upcoming video game adaptations. Now, Mattel has also jumped into the movie game with “Barbie” and “Barney.”
Yes, a “Barney” movie is being made. The kooky purple-coloured dinosaur, who swore by the mantra of “I love you and you love me,” is being turned into a movie starring Daniel Kaluuya.
In a New Yorker piece tackling Mattel’s splash into the film industry, one exec describes the upcoming “Barney” as “surrealistic” and not unlike the work of “Adaptation” and “Being John Malkovich” duo Charlie Kaufman and Spike Jonze.
We’re leaning into the millennial angst of the property rather than fine-tuning this for kids. 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.
The executive goes on to describe “Barney” as “an A24-type film.” I highly doubt this one will be stealing any ideas from “Beau is Afraid,” but I get what they’re trying to do here, it’ll be another self-aware meta shindig.
Oscar-winning actor Kaluuya has described the upcoming film as “heartbreaking.”
“Barney taught us, ‘I love you, you love me. Won’t you say you love me too?’ That’s one of the first songs I remember, and what happens when that isn’t true? I thought that was really heartbreaking […] I have no idea why but it feels like that makes sense. It feels like there’s something unexpected that can be poignant but optimistic. Especially at this time now, I think that’s really, really needed.”
That’s not all. Mattel also confirms that they are developing other films such as adaptations of Major Matt Mason, Hot Wheels and Masters of the Universe. Kill me now.
The film is set to shoot in fall 2027. The idea would be to release it in December 2028, timed to Trump's exit from office. Oh, and it's now Warner Bros.' indie label, Clockwork, that's backing the film.