Get the latest gossip
Mattel Exec on Rebooting Barney for Daniel Kaluuya’s Movie and a Max Animated Series — and Is the ‘American Girl’ Doll Movie the Next ‘Barbie’?
Mattel's chief franchise officer Josh Silverman weighs in on two new Barney projects and whether the "American Girl" doll movie can rival "Barbie."
In a bid to appeal to what Mattel chief franchise officer Josh Silverman dubs “newstalgia,” the reincarnation of the ’90s sensation is the latest entertainment project from the toy giant, which last year offered up its IP for Greta Gerwig’s “ Barbie,” and is now working on a live-action “Barney” movie with Daniel Kaluuya, a film based on the American Girl doll line and a release of a big-budget adaptation of “Masters of the Universe” with Amazon MGM Studios next June. “Barney’s World,” which debuted Monday on Max and will have its linear launch Oct. 18 on Cartoon Network, is a prime example of how Mattel’s TV and film groups are working overtime to keep Millennial, Gen Z and preschool-aged consumers (which they prefer to refer to as “fans,” per Silverman) engaged heading into their eight decade of business. Read Variety ‘s interview with Silverman about Mattel’s entertainment and consumer products plans across franchises, including Barney, Barbie, American Girl and more, below.
Or read this on Variety
