Ayo Edebiri to Write and Star in a Live-ActionBarneyMovie for A24 and Mattel

Mar. 15, 2025

Ayo Edebiri in New York City on Feb. 14, 2025; Barney ofBarney & Friends, September 2007.Photo:John Nacion/Variety via Getty; Virginia Sherwood/NBC NewsWire

John Nacion/Variety via Getty; Virginia Sherwood/NBC NewsWire

Ayo Edebiriis seeing purple!

TheBearactress, 29, is in talks to join the cast ofDaniel Kaluuya’s upcoming live-actionBarneymovie and has also been tapped to write the script.

Kaluuya’s 59% Productions and Mattel Films will co-develop and produce the full-length feature film alongside A24.

The movie, which wasfirst announcedin October 2019, “will speak to the nostalgia of the brand in a way that will resonate with adults, while entertaining today’s kids,” it was said at the time.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Barney & Friends.Mark Perlstein/Getty

Mark Perlstein/Getty

Barney & Friendsdebuted on television over two decades ago, originally running from 1992 to 2009, and at one point featured a very youngDemi LovatoandSelena Gomez. In addition to the long-running television show, the feature filmBarney’s Great Adventurewas released in 1998.

Said Kaluuya when his project about the fictional famous purple Tyrannosaurus rex was first announced, “Barney was a ubiquitous figure in many of our childhoods, then he disappeared into the shadows, left misunderstood."

Added theAcademy Awardwinner, “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."

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Daniel Kaluuya in Los Angeles on May 30, 2023; Barney ofBarney & Friends.Kevin Winter/GA/The Hollywood Reporter; Mark Perlstein/Getty

Kevin Winter/GA/The Hollywood Reporter; Mark Perlstein/Getty

During an interview withThe New Yorkerpublished in July 2023, executive vice president of Mattel Films Kevin McKeon said that theBarneymovie will be “surrealistic,” comparing it to the films of screenwriter-directorsCharlie Kaufman(Anomalisa,I’m Thinking of Ending Things) andSpike Jonze(Her,Adaptation).

“That one is getting a lot of reaction,” Kreiz said in response to a question about Mattel’s reaction to 2023’s runaway hitBarbie, which included plans at the time to bring feature-film versions of properties like Barney,Polly PocketandUNO, among others, to the big screen.

“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,” the CEO continued, when the outlet suggested that a Barney movie “sounds weird.”

“Itwill not be an odd movie,” he added at the time.

source: people.com