Labubu's wide, toothy grin is coming to the silver screen

Pop Mart and Sony Pictures are developing a Labubu film that will combine live action and CGI. Paul King will produce and direct, with a screenplay by Labubu creator Kasing Lung and Steven Levenson. The project was announced during the Paris stop of The Monsters exhibition tour marking the IP's 10th anniversary; no release date has been set.

Labubu has been a viral success for more than a year, with toys in high demand. A Pop Mart earnings report in September showed The Monsters IP generated $700 million in half‑year revenue, nearly half of the company's IP sales.

Pop Mart is working to extend Labubu's lifespan. Last week it launched a collection with Sanrio and its operations chief, Si De, said the company has "learned from Disney for a long time" and is focusing on better products, collaborations, content, theme parks, and store displays first for Labubu and then for other characters.

The company already operates a theme park in Beijing called Popland.

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