Labubu movie: Pop Mart and Sony announce feature film starring viral toys

The hugely popular Labubu dolls will soon star in their own feature film, Chinese toy company Pop Mart and Sony Pictures have announced. A Labubu movie that will combine live action and computer-generated animation is in "early development", the two companies said in a statement. The film will be directed by Paul King, whose credits include Wonka, Paddington and BBC comedy series The Mighty Boosh. No release date has been set. Labubus have become a global sensation in recent years and sales have turned Pop Mart into a toy-making behemoth worth nearly $40bn (£29.9bn), surpassing established rivals like Barbie-maker Mattel. The Labubu craze has helped Pop Mart expand beyond toys to operating a theme park in Beijing. Now, the company is venturing into film. Labubus are Pop Mart's most popular toys. Part of their appeal is that they are sold in blind boxes - buyers don't know which Labubu they are getting until they open the package. Celebrities like Rihanna and Lisa from Blackpink have also been photgraphed wearing Labubu charms with their designer bags. Created over a decade ago by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, Labubu is a forest elf inspired by Nordic mythology and part of Lung's bo