Sony Pictures Developing Film based on Popularโ Toy Line labubu
Sony Pictures has acquired the screen rights to Labubu, the plushโ toyโค line featuring uniquely designed monster characters, with plans to develop a film and potential franchise. The โdeal was โfinalized this week, butโ no producer โor โfilmmaker is currently attached to the project, and the format – live-action or animated – remains undecided.Sony declined to comment.
Labubu was originally designed by hong Kong-born, European-based artist Kasing โLung and initially produced by How2โ Work as โคpart of a line of monster figurines. Popularity surged after Chinese retailer Pop Martโ beganโ manufacturing and distributing the toys in 2019.
The brand’s success is attributedโ to Pop Mart’s “blind box” sales strategy, creating demand and a robust secondary market where limited-edition dolls can fetch six-figure prices. Celebrity endorsements, notably from Blackpink member Lisa in 2024, furtherโข fueled the toys’ global rise, initially in Southeast Asian markets and then worldwide. pop โขMart reported a 350 โpercent profit increase earlier in 2024.
Labubu is the name of the lead character, withโค Zimomo, โMokoko, and Tycoco among other figuresโ in the line.
The move reflectsโค a recent โtrendโค in Hollywood โof adapting toy brands for the big screen, following successesโฃ like The Lego Movie (2014)โ and Barbie (2023), which grossed over $1 billion globally and received eight Oscar nominations.This week, Sony and Mattel films also announced a feature film based on View โMaster.
