Funko is having another go at the film and TV space with the help of a producer who knows a little something about building a film franchise out of figures. 

Best known for its trove of licensed collectible Pop! figurines, the brand has enlisted LA-based Rideback (last year’s Lilo & Stitch) and the AI-driven startup it’s backing, Spuree (formerly Cheehoo). They’ll help bring Funko to life on screen, and are keeping the door open to all kinds of formats—animation, live-action, mixed media, scripted and unscripted.

Of course, Dan Lin’s Rideback has already proven its flair for turning a recognizable toy line into a lively media franchise with the 2014 hit film The Lego Movie and its subsequent extensions and spinoffs. 

Meanwhile, though Spuree is fairly new on the scene, the tech-forward studio’s US$10-million funding round last year attracted industry buzz, and it’s already added a Magic Tree House adaptation to its burgeoning slate.

Funko already made it onto screens once in a video game called Funko Fusion (pictured), which brought together more than 60 characters and settings. And in 2019, an animated movie adaptation entered development at Warner Animation Group, but that project never took off, and WB no longer has the option for the brand’s motion picture rights.

This new deal with Rideback and Spuree is said to encompass all of Funko’s brands, meaning we could also see projects telling stories with apparel and accessories brand Loungefly or the pop culture products brand Mondo.

Content is a big move for Funko, and the company likely hopes it helps reverse its downward sales trend. In its most recent Q3 2025 results, the company warned investors that shutting down operations may be in the cards if things didn’t turn around.