LOS ANGELES: Sony Pictures Animation is developing an Emoji movie. The studio has won a bidding war against two other major companies, Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros, in a near-seven-figure deal, reports aceshowbiz.com.

The story of the upcoming untitled project are still scarce, but the script is co-written by Eric Siegel and Anthony Leondis. Leondis, who directed Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters, is also expected to direct the film.

Unlike the toy brand Lego, which is owned by a Denmark-based company, Emoji is a public domain so it is free to grab. Following the big success of The Lego Movie, Hollywood has been working on similar projects.