He was able to “Get Out,” and survived the “Black Panther” — and Okoye — so Daniel Kaluuya’s next project might leave some people scratching their heads.

Kaluuya is partnering with Mattel Films and Valparaiso Pictures on a live-action movie about Barney, that 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 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."

» The 'Black Panther' cast takes on the #GetOutChallenge

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 the afternoon.

About the Author

Keep Reading

The Yule Forest Tulip Festival from March 8-30 features two fields of more than 100,000 tulips -- one for picking, the other for admiring.

Credit: Courtesy of Yule Forest

Featured

Workers, clean up damaged house near Paulding County High School after a storm passed through, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Dallas. National Weather Service teams will be conducting a damage survey in the Paulding County/Dallas area, which sustained “pretty significant” damage from the storms, NWS Senior Meteorologist Dylan Lusk told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Sunday morning. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC