Labubu dolls – the wildly popular toothy monsters that have sparked a global craze – may soon make their big-screen debut. Sony Pictures has acquired the screen rights to the hit plush toy brand and has begun early development on a feature film that could lay the groundwork for a new franchise.

The deal, first reported by The Hollywood Reporter, was finalized this week between the Chinese toy makers and Sony Pictures, whose animation division recently scored a global success with "KPop Demon Hunters." No producer or director has been attached yet, and it remains undecided whether the project will be live-action or animated.