Sony Pictures will bring Lovevu to the cinemas. The studio has acquired the rights to make an animated version of the Chinese doll series, which has become a global phenomenon in recent months. The idea, The Hollywood Reporter reports, is to develop a feature film with the potential to become a franchise.
This project is still in its early stages. According to the publication, the deal was finalized this week, and so far no decisions have been made regarding the producer, director or cast involved. It has also not been revealed whether the movie will be made into a live-action or animated version.
Luvbu, a fluffy doll sold at Beijing’s Pop Mart, has exploded in popularity over the past year. There is a scramble for palm-sized stuffed animals in stores, with some items costing three times the retail price on the secondary market.
They’re the constant subject of TikTok videos and huge lines form outside PopMart stores from Paris to Los Angeles. Celebrities such as Dua Lipa, Rihanna and Lisa from K-pop group Blackpink have already worn versions of the monster with a devilish grin as bag accessories.
In August, Chinese plush toy maker Pop Mart International Group Ltd. reported strong sales and profit increases. According to Bloomberg, the company’s balance sheet released on Tuesday (19th) showed that its revenue for the first half of 2025 was 13.88 billion yuan ($1.93 billion or R$10.6 billion), an increase of 204% year-on-year. This compares to 62% growth in the same period last year. Net profit increased by 397% to 4.57 billion yuan (3.5 billion reais).