Mattel’s live-action Barney movie is now eyeing a talent from The Bear to write and star. Following the mᴀssive success of Barbie, Mattel has announced progress on a slew of movies based on popular characters and toys. One such movie is a live-action feature film version of the classic children’s program Barney and Friends. The film will be produced by Mattel Films along with independent horror distributor A24. Daniel Kaluuya has been tapped to be involved, but very little information has been revealed as to the movie’s plot.

Per ᴅᴇᴀᴅline, Ayo Edebiri is now in talks to work on the Barney movie. Edebiri’s potential roles include writing the script and starring in the movie. The exact nature of her role in the film has yet to be revealed, and the plot of the live-action purple dinosaur film is also still under wraps.

What This Means For The Barney Movie

Edebiri Is A First-Time Feature Screenwriter

If this plan comes to fruition, this will be Edebiri’s first time penning a screenplay for a feature movie. While she has roots in standup comedy, The Bear star has previously served as a writer on TV series, including Dickinson and What We Do in the Shadows. Through her work both behind the scenes and on-screen, Edebiri has shown her penchant for oddball comedy. This characteristic could easily influence Barney and put a unique comedic spin on the classic kids’ show tale.

Mattel has already previously revealed how the Barney movie will stray from its source material. Mattel CEO Kevin McKeon noted in a 2023 interview that the movie would be “surrealistic” and aimed towards adults. He elaborated that they are “leaning into the millennial angst of the property rather than fine-tuning this for kids.” As a millennial herself, Edebiri could be the perfect type of writer to explore this genre-bent, adult version of Barney. As such, she really fits into the vision that Mattel has previously outlined.

Our Take On This Barney Development

Edebiri Would Be Hilarious As The Actual Dinosaur

In addition to her writing chops, Edebiri is an energetic actor with a wide range of skills. The report did not state whether her starring would mean playing the purple dinosaur itself, but a Barney portrayal would certainly not be an unwelcome update. This is also an exciting opportunity for the actor to re-team with A24, with whom she worked on the 2025 horror movie Opus. Hopefully, A24 and Mattel Films can finalize this deal with Edebiri, as she is an undeniable talent who could really add a lot to the Barney movie.

Source: ᴅᴇᴀᴅline