According to Mattel, the upcoming Barney movie will likely be marketed for adults rather than for children. The movie is based on the popular 90’s show for pre-school aged children featuring a purple and green dinosaur. Mattel Films executive Kevin McKeon spoke with The New Yorker about the upcoming movie, saying it will be marketed toward adults and will be an “A24-type” of “surrealistic” movie. “We’re leaning into the Millennial angst of the property rather than fine-tuning this for kids. It’s really a play for adults,” he said. “Not that it’s R-rated, but it’ll focus on some of the trials and tribulations of being 30-something, growing up with Barney — just the level of disenchantment within the generation.” The new “Barney” movie comes soon after the major success of Mattel’s “Barbie” blockbuster hit which sky-rocketed the studio into success earlier this year.

“Barney & Friends” first aired in April of 1992 where it featured a Tyrannosaurus rex who was optimistic and friendly. Throughout the show, Barney provided educational messages through songs and dance routines.

Daniel Kaluuya, an Oscar-nominated actor and writer who is best known for his roles in “Get Out,” “Black Panther,” and “Judas & The Black Messiah,” works with the production company called 59% who is partnering with Mattel on this project. When the Barney movie was announced in 2019, Robbie Brenner, an Oscar-nominated producer who runs Mattel films, spoke about the partnership with Kaluuya, saying it would “take a completely new approach to ‘Barney’ that will surprise audiences and subvert expectations.” Brenner gave more insight into the upcoming movie while speaking with Variety, where he said the movie would  “be more adult and have adult themes — and sort of be a little bit off-kilter,” exploring themes like “identity and finding who you love and who feels alienated”

“Barney was a ubiquitous figure in many of our childhoods, then he disappeared into the shadows, left misunderstood,” Kaluuya said when the movie was announced. “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.”