Labubu toy film with the potential to anchor franchise in the works of Sony |Film |The Guardian

The plush toy is the name of the big screen after a match was signed with the content still unclear if it will live or not.

Labubus could move towards the big screen.Sony's images have captured the imagination of toys, and it is in the development of feature films that success will receive a new anchor.

The deal, first reported by The Hollywood Reporter, was signed this week between the Chinese toy maker and Sony Pictures, whose animation arm is fresh off the global success of the K-Pop hit "Demon Hunter". There are currently no producers or filmmakers involved in the project, and it is unclear whether the film will be live action or animated.

The toys, designed by European artist Kasing Lung and initially sold as part of a line of monster figurines by the company How2 Work, first launched in Southeast Asia in 2019 after being marketed by Chinese retailer Pop Mart.The popularity of the dolls, which Lung says were inspired by Norwegian fairy tales after moving to the Netherlands from Hong Kong as a child, has been fueled by social media postings of live shows of unboxings showcasing rare collectibles and their adoption by prominent celebrities.

Singer Lisa, a member of KPop sensation Blackpink, took the hype to new levels by sticking dolls on her handbags, while stars like Rihanna and Emma Roberts helped brand Labubus as new "luxury" accessories.

New release releases now sell out within minutes at Pop Mart.In the past year alone, Pop Mart's profits have increased by 350%.And limited-edition versions of the dolls have fetched up to six figures at auction in an overheated secondary market.

Possible characters for a Found Film include LABUBU, the series' main Monster doll, as well as co-leader Zimomo, sidekick Mokoko, and Boyfriend Tycoco, among others.

A Labubu movie would be the latest development in a reverse Hollywood product pipeline - where movies once inspired toys, toys now inspire movies.The success of Barbie, which earned more than $1 billion at the global box office in 2023, set off a wave of toy-related IP ideas in Hollywood;at one point, Barbie maker Mattel was said to have screen shots for 45 of its products, including Hot Wheels, He-Man and Polly Pocket.

This week, Sony and Mattel announced that they are teaming up for a movie based on the game The Mastermind.