Kaluuya is partnering with Mattel Films and Valparaiso Pictures on a live-action movie about Barney, the giant purple dinosaur who famously loved us from 1992 through 2009.
"Barney was a ubiquitous figure in many of our childhoods, then he disappeared into the shadows, left misunderstood," Kaluuya said Friday in a statement announcing the movie. "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."
According to Mattel Films' Robbie Brenner: "Working with Daniel Kaluuya will enable us to take a completely new approach to 'Barney' that will surprise audiences and subvert expectations. The project will speak to the nostalgia of the brand in a way that will resonate with adults, while entertaining today's kids."
Kaluuya was nominated for an Academy Award for his 2017 performance in "Get Out." In 2018, he played W'Kabi — friend of T'Challa and the love of Okoye — in Marvel's Atlanta-filmed "Black Panther."
Social media had mixed reactions to the announcement, so many that Barney was a trending topic by Friday afternoon.
ICYMI: In today's edition of "Things i did NOT expect to be hearing" #Barney https://t.co/SCxNY1XyDs
— Ryan Scott (@RyanScottWrites) October 18, 2019
There’s so much to unpack here...I just...I have so many questions...will Daniel be Barney? Wasn’t Barney live-action to begin with? Will this be a disturbing origin story of how Barney was forced into existence from dna preserved in amber? https://t.co/sfau1GY8kM
— Kat (@thiskatchats) October 18, 2019
barney, a member of the community of color 🖤
— hunter harris (@hunteryharris) October 18, 2019
If Demi & Selena aren’t in Daniel Kaluuya’s just-announced BARNEY movie, we riot pic.twitter.com/ermDkRIsek
— Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) October 18, 2019
Look. I was a fool for Barney. But this isn’t necessary, love https://t.co/bzJu1xIq5s
— Angie Thomas (@angiecthomas) October 18, 2019
About the Author