Sony Pictures to Produce Labubu Film
According to the CinemaDrame News Agency, Sony Pictures is developing an animated Labubu movie. The Hollywood Reporter has reported that following the success of KPop Demon Hunters, the studio has acquired the rights to adapt these Chinese figurines into a feature film.
The deal was signed last week, and the project does not yet have a producer. The Hollywood Reporter notes that it is still undecided whether the film will be animated or live-action.
The figurines, designed by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, were first produced by the company How2Work, but Pop Mart purchased them in 2019. Their popularity has surged in recent years for two main reasons. The first is that Pop Mart sells them in “blind boxes,” meaning buyers do not know which figurine they have purchased until they open the box. Additionally, a secondary market has emerged, with collectors paying extremely high—sometimes six-figure—prices for certain models. The second reason is that several celebrities, including Lisa of the K-pop group BLACKPINK, have purchased the figurines. Labubu first became popular in Southeast Asian markets but has now become a global trend.
Several films based on popular toys have been produced over the past decade, such as The Lego Movie. Barbie, which grossed over $1.4 billion two years ago and received eight Oscar nominations, is among the latest major toy-to-film adaptations.
