Daniel Kaluuya’s Barney Movie ‘Surrealistic’ and ‘For Adults’

It looks as though the upcoming live-action Barney movie isn’t really for kids.

During an interview with The New Yorker, Mattel executive Kevin McKeon revealed Daniel Kaluuya’s take on the talking dinosaur is more for grown-ups.

“We’re leaning into the millennial angst of the property rather than fine-tuning this for kids,” he said. “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.”

He additionally explained the project was “surrealistic” and reportedly compared the Barney movie to the works of Charlie Kaufman and Spike Jonze.

It’s not the first time we’ve heard the Barney movie isn’t quite what we would expect. Back in 2020, Get Out’s Kaluuya, who is producing the movie, explained why it’s a more “heartbreaking” take on the lovable, talking dinosaur.

“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,” said Kaluuya. “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.”

Although the project is still in the works, it’s being sold to prospective partners as an “A24-type” film. “It would be so daring of us, and really underscore that we’re here to make art,” explained McKeon. Whether or not it takes any cues from the likes of Ex Machina or Midsommar remains to be seen.

Want to read more about Mattel? Check out why Barbie has been banned in Vietnam as well as the Barbenheimer double feature everyone wants to see.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

Author: Ryan Leston. [Source Link (*), IGN All]

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