Ayo Edebiri to Write, Star in Barney Movie from A24, Mattel

Ayo Edebiri is set to write and is in talks to star in the Barney movie at A24.

The project has been in development since 2019 when it was annoucned that Mattel Films and Daniel Kaluuya’s 59% Productions would be partnering with the studio on the project about the beloved childhood TV character.

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Barney & Friends, which was produced from 1992 to 2009, was a childhood staple and introduced viewers to Barney, an imaginary and perpetually optimistic tyrannosaurus rex that teaches lessons about friendship through song and dance.

Barney will be overseen by Kevin McKeon and Andrew Scannell for Mattel, with Mattel head Robbie Brenner producing, along with Kaluuya and Rowan Riley.

Edebiri will next be seen in A24 horror thriller Opus, which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival; the Bear break-out will be seen in the fourth season of the FX series that earned her an Emmy. Other upcoming projects include James L. Brooks’ Ella McCay and Luca Guadagnino’s After the Hunt. Edebiri’s writing credits include Dickinson and What We Do In the Shadows.

She is repped by CAA, Range and Del Shaw.

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