Mattel to relaunch Barney with new series and merchandise

Mattel is set to relaunch Barney series in form of a new slate that will also include a re-imagined animated series in addition to toys and merchandise.

The series will debut in 2024 and backed by Corus Entertainment's Nelvana. Barney is an iconic children's show which shows a friendly purple dinosaur who imparts knowledge to a group of children, along with some fun and frolic.

The reboot will reintroduce the dinosaur which will teach "lessons on love, community, and encouragement". It will be executive produced by Fred Soulie and Christopher Keenan for Mattel Television along with Colin Bohm and Pam Westman for Nelvana.

Apart from the toys and series, Mattel will also roll out YouTube and music content. The merchandise will also include books, apparel, and accessories.

"Barney’s message of love and kindness has stood the test of time. 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," said Josh Silverman, chief franchise officer and global head of consumer products at Mattel.

“In creating the new series, it was important to us that we properly reflect the world that kids today live in so that the series can deliver meaningful lessons about navigating it. With our modern take on Barney, we hope to inspire the next generation to listen, care, and dream big. We think that parents, many of whom will fondly remember the original Barney from their own childhoods, will love the show, too,” ” said Fred Soulie, SVP and general manager of Mattel Television.