BARNEY, BOB THE BUILDER Coming to the Big Screen
By Movieguide® Contributor
After the release of BARBIE last year, viewers can expect to see more movies inspired by toys and childhood TV shows hit the big screen in the coming years.
Variety reported, “Mattel, the company behind the iconic doll, is looking to capitalize on its cinematic success by developing dozens of movies based on its games and toys. Moviegoers can look forward to Barney, Bob the Builder and He-Man hitting the big screen in the not-so-distant future.”
The upcoming BARNEY movie will be geared towards adults rather than children. The film stars and is produced by Daniel Kaluuya.
“We’re leaning into the millennial angst of the property rather than fine-tuning this for kids,” Kaluuya said, per Deadline. “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.”
BOB THE BUILDER will also hit the big screen in the near future. The movie is produced by Jennifer Lopez and her company, Nuyorican Productions. HAMILTON’s Anthony Ramos is slated to star.
“When Roberto ‘Bob’ travels to the enchanting island of Puerto Rico for a major construction job, he takes on issues affecting the island and digs deeper into what it means to build. Bob’s journey will celebrate the vibrant and colorful textures of the Caribbean Latin nations and their people,” a synopsis reads.
MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE will bring the “He-Man” toy to life, but production hasn’t started yet.
Variety reported, “The project was set up at Sony and then moved to Netflix, which kicked it into turnaround over budget concerns — but only after spending $30 million in development costs. Amazon MGM may end up with the movie.”
Other toy-based movies in the works include POLLY POCKET, ROCK ‘EM SOCK ‘EM ROBOTS and MAGIC 8 BALL.
Movieguide® previously reported:
From shelves to the big screen, American Girl dolls are slated to get their own movie in the coming years.
“Mattel Films announced plans to produce another toy-centric flick with Paramount Pictures and Temple Hill Entertainment, based on the American Girl dolls,” Variety reported.
Lindsay Anderson Beer is set to write the screenplay.
“Growing up, my sister and I were American Girl girls,” Anderson Beer stated in a press release. “I had Kirsten, and she had Molly. They didn’t feel like dolls to play with, rather real people whose worlds we got to imagine ourselves in. They are historically accurate toys and accessories that feature elaborate and immersive backstories uniquely suited to bring to screen.”
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