Sony Pictures has begun early development on a Labubu feature film, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed, signalling the next major leap for the wildly popular collectible toy.
While the studio has yet to reveal any creative direction, both live-action and animation remain possibilities as Sony explores how to translate the plush icon for cinema audiences.
Labubu did not originate as a Hollywood property. The fanged, elf-like creature was created in 2015 by Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung, with every subsequent release handled by Chinese retail giant Pop Mart.
But 2024 took the craze to new heights. Fans queued outside stores for hours, blind-box drops sold out instantly, and online auctions spiralled.
As People magazine notes, much of Labubu’s appeal lies in its cast of tiny oddballs Mokoko, Pato, Spooky, Tycoco, Zimomo and more. Each became merchandise gold, spawning collaborations, themed series and endless limited editions.
The blind-box format, where buyers do not know which character they are getting, only intensified demand. The secrecy created a booming resale market, with some rare figures fetching six-figure prices, astonishing anyone outside the fandom.
Celebrities rapidly amplified the craze. BLACKPINK’s Lisa was an early adopter, followed by Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, and David Beckham. With each appearance, Labubu shifted from niche collectable to global pop-culture fixture.
If greenlit, Labubu would join a growing list of toy brands making the leap to film. Hollywood has already seen major wins in the genre, from ‘The LEGO Movie’ (2014) to the record-breaking ‘Barbie’ (2023).
Only last week, Sony confirmed plans for a feature adaptation of Mattel’s View-Master.
