Los Angeles, Nov 15 (UNI) Sony Pictures is gearing up to bring the popular Chinese collectible toy brand Labubu to the big screen. The studio has acquired the screen rights to Labubu, aiming to develop a feature film, and potentially a franchise, based on the trendy dolls that have become a global pop culture phenomenon over the past year, reported Variety.
The project is still in its very early stages, with no cast, producers, or creative team attached, and Sony Pictures has declined to comment.
Though Labubu debuted in 2015, the collectible fanged figurines from Chinese toymaker Pop Mart have seen a meteoric rise in popularity only recently.
Sold in a “blind-box” format, where buyers don’t know which character they’ll get until they open it, Labubu’s design has fueled a fervent secondary market and an intense fan following.
Celebrity endorsements have further fueled the craze. K-pop star Lisa of Blackpink described Labubu as “my baby” in a Teen Vogue interview earlier this year.
NBA player Dillon Brooks was spotted sporting a Labubu on a chain during a playoff game in May and later told reporters, “I like the Labubus. I got like four of them… It’s cool and… um… it’s cute.”
Developing a feature film is a long-term endeavor, so Sony’s acquisition is a calculated bet that Labubu will remain culturally relevant enough to attract audiences when the movie hits theaters.
The Hollywood Reporter was first to report Sony’s acquisition of the Labubu screen rights.
