In our memories, Barney was a friendly, lovable character from a TV show aimed at young children. But according to Kevin McKeon, an executive at Mattel’s film division, the company has different plans for the purple dinosaur. In an interview with The New Yorker, McKeon discussed the upcoming Barney story, revealing a new and unique tone for the character. He stated:
“Rather than fine-tuning this for kids, we’re leaning into the Millennial angst and making it a play for adults. It won’t be R-rated, but it will explore the trials and tribulations of being a 30-something who grew up with Barney, highlighting the disillusionment within that generation. It will be a daring move on our part, emphasizing that we’re here to make art.”
This trend of darker versions of beloved children’s stories is on the rise. For example, Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey recently debuted as a horror movie targeted at adults. While it doesn’t seem like Barney will delve into horror, McKeon described the film as an “A24-type.” Additionally, Daniel Kaluuya, known for his role in last year’s hit film Nope, is involved as a producer, and there is speculation about his potential involvement in the cast. With a defined tone and producer already in place, the development process for Barney is progressing steadily.
Kaluuya’s past work demonstrates his familiarity with sinister stories. In Nope, directed by Jordan Peele, Kaluuya’s character, Otis Haywood Jr., tries to save his father’s business from a threat in the form of an extraterrestrial creature. As the alien wreaks havoc, consuming everything in its path, Otis must find a way to destroy it before it kills him and his sister, Emerald (played by Keke Palmer).
The Biggest Party of the Summer
Mattel has other projects in the works based on their popular intellectual properties like Hot Wheels and Uno. However, before they can focus on those, they must keep a close eye on Barbie’s box office performance. The highly anticipated blockbuster of the summer features Margot Robbie as Barbie on a journey of self-discovery. Together with Ken (Ryan Gosling), they venture into the human world in search of answers. Barbie opens in theaters on July 21.
Check out Collider’s interview with Daniel Kaluuya below:
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Khushi Patel is a science fiction author who lives in Austin, Texas. She has published three novels, and her work has been praised for its originality and imagination. Khushi is a graduate of Rice University, and she has worked as a software engineer. She is a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America, and her books have been nominated for several awards.
