Mattel has officially announced the return of the Barney franchise. Revitalizing the Barney brand will, of course, include new television content, though the purple dinosaur will also be featured in new film and YouTube projects, as well as music and various kids' products such as toys, books, and clothing. A first look at the new Barney has also been unveiled, shown above. For the adults who feel nostalgic for the classic Barney, there will also be new apparel and accessories that will be introduced.
The first order of business for the relaunch is for an all-new animated series to debut globally in 2024. As with the original, the new show is created for preschool kids and will feature "the ubiquitous purple dinosaur and friends, introducing new audiences to the world of Barney through music-filled adventures centered on love, community, and encouragement." Corus Entertainment's Nelvana is producing the series while Fred Soulie and Christopher Keenan executive produce for Mattel TV. Colin Bohm and Pam Westman of Nelvana are also executive producing.
“Barney’s message of love and kindness has stood the test of time,” says Mattel's Chief Franchise Officer and Global Head of Consumer Products, Josh Silverman, in a statement. “We will tap into the nostalgia of the generations who grew up with Barney, now parents themselves, and introduce the iconic purple dinosaur to a new generation of kids and families around the world across content, products, and experiences.”
Mattel TV's SVP and General Manager, Fred Soulie, adds: "In creating the new series, it was important to us that we properly reflect the world that kids today live in so that the series can deliver meaningful lessons about navigating it. With our modern take on Barney, we hope to inspire the next generation to listen, care, and dream big. We think that parents, many of whom will fondly remember the original Barney from their own childhoods, will love the show, too.”
Barney Returns in 2024
The other plans for the Barney franchise return are not entirely clear just yet, but it was previously reported that there was a "dark" Barney in the works at Mattel. Oscar winner Daniel Kaluuya has been attached to that project, and last year, he said that the screenplay was still being worked on. While the new announcement for the revival confirms film content in the works, it's unclear if the plan is still to move forward with Kaluuya's film, or if they'll fall back on something more child-friendly.
Meanwhile, Peacock recently took a look into the history of Barney with a documentary released on the streaming platform last year. It focused on the unwarranted criticism of the show and has led to viewers feeling remorseful over being so hard on the purple dinosaur. You can find that doc, called I Love You, You Hate Me, streaming on Peacock.