Daniel Kaluuya Promises 'Dark, Live-action' 'Barney' Movie Adaptation, Inspiring Intrigue And Eyerolls

Actor Daniel Kaluuya gave his best Eli Cash impersonation while describing his upcoming "dark, live-action" Barney adaptation when he said, "Barney taught us, ‘I love you, you love me, won't you say you love me too?' That’s one of the first songs I remember … what happens when that isn't true?"

In a recent interview with Hollywood Reporter, Kaluuya confirmed he was in the process of making a dark, live-action version of Barney The Dinosaur with his production company 59%, saying the project was in early development and the script was being reworked.

Though the piece doesn't dive too deeply into the project, Kaluuya shared he was working on the film to break perceptions of him as an artist. Kaluuya is best known for his roles in Jordan Peele's horror films like Get Out and Nope, as well as a star turn in Black Panther.

News of the "dark Barney movie" went viral online after media news aggregate Twitter account Culture Crave reposted the quote.

Daniel Kaluuya confirms his live-action #Barney movie is happening

It will be darker than the TV show

Previously he said, "Barney taught us, ‘I love you, you love me, won't you say you love me too?' That’s one of the first songs I remember… what happens when that isnt true?" pic.twitter.com/28×9HM3dVP

— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) July 14, 2022

As this was the first time many had heard of Kaluuya's "Dark Barney" project, Twitter users began riffing on the concept with a mix of eye-rolls and intrigue.

Me: I don't want anymore gritty reboots
Me: [reads this]
Me: I want exactly one more gritty reboot https://t.co/fBAAAaXGbJ

— Elle Has Cats (@ellle_em) July 15, 2022

I always found Barney patronizing, even when I was a kid. Seasame Street, Mr Rogers seemed sincere. Barney felt like a very calculated, designed-by-committee show, based on what dispassionate adults thought kids show should be. So a dark remake of it is fine. Appropriate even! https://t.co/sZ3A0ikPEQ

— Art-Eater ➡️⬇️↘️🐲👊 (@Richmond_Lee) July 15, 2022

This is why he left Black Panther 2. He clearly has higher priority like [checks note]…. gritty Barney The Dinosaur reboot https://t.co/YLOjFkyCyo

— 🎀Frae's Fortunes🎀NEW ART ON BAYO3-TREON (@JellyfshFortuna) July 15, 2022

Many were reminded of how Barney was loathed by many at the time of its run and joked that the parody songs about killing Barney that were popular in the '90s and 2000s were becoming a reality.

I HATE YOU YOU HATE ME LETS GO OUT AND KlLL BARNEY https://t.co/E9AzVCzKvB

— 💛 * hands u an egg * (@finnmertens) July 15, 2022

This is givin me vibes of someone who sang “I hate you, You hate me, Let’s get together and kill Barney” and “Joy to the world, ‘cause Barney’s dead! We barbecued his head!” back in childhood https://t.co/QICciYnwZH

— Juno Songs (@JunoSongsYT) July 15, 2022

i hope that friend of mine from elementary school who hated barney and was obsessed with making him evil is having a good day https://t.co/yss3QpCds2

— cyril 🏳️‍🌈 | COMMS OPEN 📌 (@ironladders) July 15, 2022

It will be years until we know for sure that Kaluuya's "dark Barney" movie will be a reality and not a bizarre pitch lost in development hell, but rest assured that if it does happen, it will almost definitely feature a trailercore version of "I Love You, You Love Me" in the trailer.