Josh Silverman: Last News

Barney the purple dinosaur is bringing the I Love You song to a whole new generation of kids — while also hoping to capitalize on the nostalgia of older fans.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer Last July, the executives at Mattel were celebrating the year anniversary of their billion-dollar box office baby “Barbie” at the Hollywood Bowl. After shattering global attendance records with Greta Gerwig’s cinematic adventure — based on the company’s most iconic brand — the team partnered on “Barbie the Movie: In Concert,” a live-scored screening of the Oscar-nominated film at the hallowed Los Angeles venue. As the crowds awaited the start of the symphony, Josh Silverman, Mattel’s global head of consumer products and chief franchise officer, noticed more than one family playing a classic card game to pass the time before the amphitheater doors opened.

Ayo Edebiri is going to be the force behind an upcoming live action film version of Barney.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer “The Bear” star Ayo Edebiri is set to write the screenplay for the upcoming live-action “Barney” movie and is also in talks to star in the film. “Barney” will be co-developed and produced by A24 and Daniel Kaluuya’s 59% Productions in partnership with “Barney” IP owner Mattel Films. Kevin McKeon and Andrew Scannell are overseeing the project for Mattel Films.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent As it rolls out new animated series “Barney’s World” on Max and Cartoon Network and prepares a live-action “Barney” movie with Daniel Kaluuya, Mattel will be driving into live action non-pre school premium TV series to grow its brands and properties, Josh Silverman, Mattel’s chief franchise officer, announced on Sunday at his MipJunior leadership keynote at Cannes, entitled Beyond the Toybox: Shaping the Future of Play. Silverman also confirmed the Netflix release date of “Thomas & Friends: The Christmas Letter Express” one-hour holiday special as Nov. 21 in the U.S.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer From your imagination back to your TV screen, iconic purple dinosaur Barney returns this week with the new animated Max series “Barney’s World.” 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.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Former head of drama development at Disney’s 20th Television Michelle Mendelovitz has been named head of Mattel Television Studios. In her new role, Mendelovitz will oversee the development, production, and distribution of Mattel’s slate of episodic content on broadcast and streaming globally.

Former 20th Television Head of Drama Michelle Mendelovitz has been tapped to take the reins as Head of Mattel Television Studios.

William Earl Variety is pleased to announce additional speakers for its annual Entertainment Marketing Summit, presented by Deloitte, on April 19 in Los Angeles, including Christian Parkes, CMO, Neon; Catherine Halaby, head of entertainment, North America, TikTok; Deon Graham, chief brand officer, Combs Global; and Rachel Delphin, CMO, Twitch. Parkes and Halaby will join a Keynote Entertainment Marketing Leaders panel, also including Karen Bronzo, CMO, Warner Bros. Discovery; Dwight Caines, president, domestic marketing, Universal Pictures; and Marc Weinstock, president, worldwide marketing and distribution, Paramount Pictures. Graham, who oversees campaigns for Sean Combs’ businesses such as Revolt TV and Cîroc Vodka, will join a multicultural marketing conversation featuring Ellene V. Miles, SVP intersectional marketing, Sony Pictures Entertainment/ Motion Picture Group; Christine Benitez, SVP multicultural marketing, Paramount Pictures; and Claudia Chagui, SVP marketing and creative, NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises.

relaunch of the Barney franchise, the internet reacted to the beloved character’s “scary” extreme makeover.“Thank you, Mattel for giving me nightmares with this horrifying-looking #Barney,” one Twitter user wrote. Another user tweeted, “man barney looks scary now.”The life-sized purple dinosaur’s updated look features an animated version of the childhood phenomenon.Barney now has big green eyes, a new set of teeth and embodies more of a Tyrannosaurus Rex with vibrant colors.“That’s not Barney!” a fan reacted. “I don’t know how…. but they made Barney more Scary Looking!!” another user said.Mattel did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.The company hopes parents will enjoy the rebranding of Barney for the next generation of kids. “Barney’s message of love and kindness has stood the test of time,” Josh Silverman, chief franchise officer and global head of consumer products at Mattel, said in a statement about the rebranding.That’s not Barney! https://t.co/jABKLh0aIL“We will tap into the nostalgia of the generations who grew up with Barney, now parents themselves, and introduce the iconic purple dinosaur to a new generation of kids and families around the world across content, products, and experiences,” Silverman noted.Barney’s transformation comes on the heels of the “I Love You, You Hate Me,” docuseries which uncovers the shocking dark side of the purple dinosaur.

Childhood favourite dinosaur Barney is getting a huge makeover as owner Mattel announces a franchise relaunch.

Barney,” too?The iconic purple dinosaur is set for a makeover in an upcoming franchise reboot, the toy company Mattel announced on Monday. The relaunch of the 1990s icon — who haunted parents’ dreams with his constant reminders to be kind and optimistic, not to mention the “I love you” song — will include an animated series, as well as film and YouTube content and product lines marketed to both younger and older audiences, including toys, books and clothing.

Mattel is doing a full overhaul in relaunching Barney the dinosaur with a new animated preschool TV series set to debut worldwide in 2024, along with a comprehensive revitalization that will span film, YouTube content and music and a full range of kids’ products including toys, books, clothing and more. Apparel and accessories for adult fans, featuring classic Barney, are also part of the mix.The new animated TV series will center around the ubiquitous purple dinosaur and friends,introducing new audiences to the world of Barney through music-filled adventures centered on love,community and encouragement. The series will be produced by Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana andexecutive produced by Fred Soulie and Christopher Keenan for Mattel Television and by Colin Bohm andPam Westman for Nelvana.Recently relaunched Mattel properties include its Monster High property and 1980s Masters of the Universe franchise, both with new content and consumer products programs.“Barney’s message of love and kindness has stood the test of time,” said Josh Silverman, Chief FranchiseOfficer and Global Head of Consumer Products at Mattel. “We will tap into the nostalgia of the generations who grew up with Barney, now parents themselves, and introduce the iconic purpledinosaur to a new generation of kids and families around the world across content, products, andexperiences.”

BreAnna Bell Mattel has announced plans to relaunch the Barney franchise with a new slate of content as well as toys and merchandise. The relaunch will kick off with a reimagined animated series, which is set to debut globally in 2024. Produced by Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana, the show promises to reintroduce the famously friendly purple dinosaur to a new generation of preschool kids with lessons on “love, community, and encouragement” told through music-filled adventures. Fred Soulie and Christopher Keenan will executive produce for Mattel Television alongside Colin Bohm and Pam Westman for Nelvana.