Labubu game movie with potential to cement franchise in the works at Sony | film

Labubus could be heading to the big screen. Sony Pictures has acquired the screen rights to the plush toy and is in early development on a feature film, which, if successful, would establish a new series.

The deal, first reported by The Hollywood Reporter, was signed this week between the Chinese game makers and Sony Pictures, whose animation division is fresh off the global success of KPop Demon Hunters. No producer or filmmaker has been attached to the project yet, and it remains unclear whether the film will be live-action or animated.

The toys, designed by Europe-based artist Cassing Long and initially sold as part of a range of monster figurines by How2 Work, first took off in Southeast Asia in 2019, after being marketed by Chinese retailer Pop Mart. The popularity of the dolls, which Leung says were inspired by Scandinavian fairy tales after moving to the Netherlands from Hong Kong as a child, has been boosted by social media posts showcasing rare collections on social media, as well as their endorsement by high-profile celebrities.

Singer Lisa, a member of popular K-pop group Blackpink, has taken the craze to another level by cutting dolls onto her handbags, while stars like Rihanna and Emma Roberts have helped position the LaboBoss brand as the new “luxury” accessory.

New releases from Pop Mart now sell out in minutes; Last year alone, Pop Mart’s profits reportedly rose 350%. Limited edition doll prices have reached six figures at auction, in a red-hot secondary market.

Possible characters for a feature film include Labubu, the line’s main monster doll, as well as fellow leader Zimomo, companion Mokoko, and her sidekick Tycoco, among others.

A Labobo movie would be the latest development in Hollywood’s upside-down merchandise pipeline – while movies once inspired games, games are now inspiring movies. The huge success of Barbie, which grossed more than $1 billion at the global box office in 2023, unleashed a wave of toy-related intellectual property ideas in Hollywood; At one point, Barbie manufacturer Mattel was reported to have screen displays for 45 of its products, including Hot Wheels, He-Man and Polly Pocket.

Sony and Mattel announced this week that they are partnering for a movie based on the View Master toy.