Reminder that Ayo Edebiri Is Writing a Barney Movie for Mattel and A24

If there’s one thing Barbie proved—besides how to make a buttload of money, it’s that studios finally realized it’s possible to create interesting, compelling movies out of well-known IP that doesn’t feel like IP slop. If Greta Gerwig can turn a Barbie movie into a $1 billion phenomenon, then sure, Ayo Edebiri can make a surrealist Barney film for … A24.

Edebiri reportedly pitched the project to producer Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out) after returning from a month-long trip through Asia. She’s staying quiet on the details but describes the tone as surreal, in the style of Charlie Kaufman or Spike Jonze.

“We’re leaning into the millennial angst of the property rather than fine-tuning this for kids,” she told the Wall Street Journal. “It’s really a play for adults. Not that it’s R-rated, but it’ll focus on some of the trials and tribulations of being thirtysomething, growing up with Barney—just the level of disenchantment within the generation.”

Edebiri is also in talks to star in the film. And she’s no stranger to writing: she penned an episode of the upcoming season of The Bear, contributed to What We Do in the Shadows, served as a staff writer on Dickinson and season four of Big Mouth, and has a story credit on an episode of the animated series Craig of the Creek.

I still have no idea how this is going to work, but I’m weirdly excited to find out.

Not for nothing, but it’s also fun to look through her Getty Images, because she just randomly appears alongside folks like Henry Winkler or Cillian Murphy. She also gives great face when confronting the likes of Bob Iger or, uh, Prince William. The latter photo has a very surreal “What am I doing here?” vibe.

via WSJ