A major motion picture based on the wildly popular Labubu plush toys is officially in development, with a celebrated director now attached to the project. Paul King, the filmmaker behind the beloved Paddington movies and the recent musical hit Wonka, has been confirmed to helm the feature.
The project is moving forward at Sony Pictures, which secured the screen rights to the Chinese-origin toy brand. While specific plot details remain under wraps, the film is in its early stages, and it is not yet known whether it will be presented as a live-action or animated production.
King is renowned for his work that blends heart, humor, and visual charm. His directorial portfolio includes the critically adored Paddington films and the commercially successful Wonka, which explored the origins of the iconic chocolatier. He is also involved in the upcoming Paddington in Peru and a Disney project centered on Prince Charming.
The Labubu character, created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, first gained traction as part of a collectible monster figure line. Its popularity exploded, particularly across Asia, after being marketed by the retail giant Pop Mart. The toys’ appeal is driven by a vibrant collector culture, frequently showcased in social media “unboxing” videos, and their adoption by high-profile figures as fashionable items.
Demand for new releases is so intense that drops often sell out in minutes, contributing to massive financial growth for the company behind them. A fervent secondary market has even seen rare editions command prices reaching into the hundreds of thousands.
This film continues a growing trend in Hollywood of adapting toy properties into feature films, a model notably reinvigorated by the blockbuster success of Barbie. That film’s performance has spurred studios to actively develop projects based on various toy lines, with several similar adaptations currently in the pipeline across the industry.