Ayo Edebiri is trading the kitchen for childhood nostalgia. The Bear star has been tapped to write the screenplay for the upcoming live-action Barney movie, A24 confirmed on social media. In addition to penning the script, Edebiri is also in talks to take on a starring role in the film, which is a collaboration between A24, Mattel Films, and Daniel Kaluuya’s 59% Productions.

While Edebiri is widely recognized for her role as chef Sydney Adamu in The Bear, she’s no stranger to the writers’ room. A 2017 graduate of NYU’s Dramatic Writing program, she has previously written for shows like Sunnyside, Dickinson, Big Mouth, and What We Do in the Shadows.

Although details about the film’s plot remain under wraps, the project is described as a more mature, but not R-rated, reimagining of the iconic purple dinosaur. Drawing comparisons to Barbie, Mattel executive Kevin McKeon previously hinted at the film’s tone, explaining to The New Yorker in 2023, “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.”

The Barney film is just one of many upcoming Mattel adaptations, joining Polly Pocket, American Girl, and Magic 8 Ball on the studio’s expanding slate.

As her career continues to soar, Edebiri has expressed deep appreciation for the work she’s been able to create.

"Work can be a very intimate thing and a very personal thing and a very emotional thing,” she told Vanity Fair in 2024. “And I think when you're also in industries that are creative or creative-adjacent, there's something that also invokes feelings of passion.”

Her journey has exceeded even her own expectations.

"She didn’t dream of nights like this," Edebiri joked to E! News at the 2023 Emmys. "She sort of dreamed of dental insurance. We got dental, we got eyes, we got ears. We can go to the dermatologist."

With a Barney revival in the works and Edebiri at the helm, audiences can expect a fresh, thought-provoking take on the childhood icon—one that speaks directly to the generation who grew up with him.

Source: E! News