Step aside, Barbie and Lego — there’s a new toy gearing up for its big-screen moment!
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Sony Pictures — home of the “Spider-Man” franchise and Sony Animation’s “K-Pop Demon Hunters” — has officially acquired the rights to turn the wildly popular Labubu brand into a film. The project is still deep in early development, with no producers, directors, or cast attached just yet. It also remains a mystery whether the movie will take the form of animation or live-action, adding to the growing buzz around the project.
For the uninitiated, Labubu is the brainchild of Hong Kong-based artist Kasing Lung and is distributed by Chinese toy giant POP MART in blind box format. This “surprise unboxing” model quickly transformed Labubu into a collectible phenomenon, fueling long queues, restocks that sell out in minutes, and heated resale markets. Part of its rise also comes from its celebrity fans, most notably Lisa of global K-Pop powerhouse BLACKPINK, who was spotted in 2024 with a Labubu bag charm. Her appearance ignited a full-on blind-box frenzy, cementing the quirky monster-like figure as a must-have accessory.
With toy-to-screen adaptations also on the rise and character-driven franchises gaining renewed cultural traction, a Labubu film feels right on trend. The 2023 film “Barbie" grossed over US$1.44 billion worldwide, while “The Lego Movie” and “Bumblebee” also achieved massive success. So if the toy’s fanbase is any indication, this little creature might just follow in the footsteps of other iconic toy brands that leaped from shelves to cinema.
Some notable upcoming projects by Sony Pictures include a “K-Pop Demon Hunters” sequel set for 2029 and their collaboration with Mattel Studios on a live-action movie based on its hand-held stereoscopic viewing device, View Master.
Meanwhile, POP MART released the “WHY SO SERIOUS?” series last October, which features Labubu plush pendant dolls in circus-themed designs.
For updates on the upcoming Labubu film, follow Sony Pictures on Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Instagram.
