Daniel Kaluuya to produce live-action ‘Barney’ movie

'We're excited to explore this compelling modern-day hero," said Kaluuya

Daniel Kaluuya is taking on Barney. The purple dinosaur we grew up loving is getting a facelift in a big way.

Kaluuya has taken a step back to analyze the role the 1990’s TV character from Barney and Friends played in our lives as kids, and where he exists now.

Read More: Actor Daniel Kaluuya says he ‘happens to be Black’ but is tired of talking about race

The “Queen and Slim” actor told the Hollywood Reporter, “Barney was a ubiquitous figure in many of our childhoods, then he disappeared into the shadows, left misunderstood. 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.”

His production team, 59% is collaborating with Mattel Films to create the project that was first announced last October.

There is no word yet when the film is set to release but when Entertainment Weekly asked why he wanted to work on the film he said, “I have no idea why but it feels like that makes sense. It feels like there’s something unexpected that can be poignant but optimistic. Especially at this time now, I think that’s really, really needed.”

Read More: See Daniel Kaluuya as Fred Hampton in first ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ trailer

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Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images for BFI

It seems as if Kaluuya became a Hollywood hitman overnight. Back in 2017, he starred in “Get Out,” and as reported by theGrio he is slated to play civil rights fighter Fred Hampton alongside Lakeith Stanfield  in, Judas and the Black Messiah, which is set to debut in 2021. The film will be produced by Ryan Coogler and directed by Shaka King.

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