Summary

  • Mattel CEO assures that the Barney movie will not be "odd," promising a fresh, fun, and culturally oriented approach.
  • The film will target adults while leaning into the Millennial angst of the property, but it will not be R-rated or excessively dark.
  • Some may be disappointed with a more traditional take on the iconic purple dinosaur, as it veers away from the potential for an off-the-walls, trippy classic.

The Barney movie will not be an “odd movie” according to Mattel. Barney is among the long list of adaptations coming down the pike for Mattel following the success of Barbie. The Barney movie stars Daniel Kaluuya and will reportedly be geared towards a more adult audience than the Barney & Friends source material from which it adapts.

Despite the adult-oriented nature of Barney, Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz claims that Barney will not be an “odd movie.” Speaking with Semafor, Kreiz eschewed any mention of plot specifics, but assured that Barney’s approach would be “fun” and “culturally oriented.” Check out the full quote from Kreiz below:

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. It will not be an odd movie.

How Can The Barney Movie Not Be An “Odd Movie”?

Barney The Dinosaur shrugging

Kreiz’s incredibly vague statement leaves more questions than answers about the premise of the Barney movie. First of all, it calls into question what Kreiz defines as odd. Though a blockbuster success, there is a world in which Barbie might be described as an “odd movie,” as the film makes some unusual choices (e.g. breaking out into song with “I’m Just Ken.”). Kreiz most likely means that the film will not be incredibly dark nor obscene.

Kreiz’s statement does align with some of the more recent news about Barney. Even though the film is supposedly geared toward an adult audience, Barney will not be R-rated. Mattel Films executive Kevin McKeon confirmed this in a recent statement, wherein he attested that Barney would be “​​leaning into the Millennial angst of the property” but not going beyond a PG-13 territory. This means that Barney will stray away from the children’s-property-turned-horror subgenre fueled by Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, and also avoid a Ted-esque lecherous Barney.

The Barney news might come as a disappointment for some who were expecting a more off-the-walls take on the benevolent purple dinosaur. With the inherent oddity of a mascot-like, felt-fabric dinosaur befriending human children, Barney had the potential to create a trippy, off-the-rails classic. Following the success of Barbie, it is understandable that Mattel might want to play it safe. Nonetheless, a playing-it-straight Barney is an underwhelming turn.

Source: Semafor