Webtoon, Espotlight adapting Spanish-language Wattpad titles under first-look pact

Webtoon Productions has inked a first-look agreement with Madrid- and LA-based production company Espotlight to develop Spanish-language Wattpad webnovels into TV shows and films.

Anxo Rodríguez

The formal partnership comes after the companies worked together on a feature film adaptation of Boulevard, a Wattpad title with more than 160 million reads on the platform. The movie, which was produced alongside Sony Pictures International, premiered in cinemas in Spain, Latin America and the US in April and is now streaming exclusively on Prime Video worldwide.

Webtoon Productions is the studio arm of South Korea-based media company Webtoon Entertainment. Story-sharing platform Wattpad and webcomic platform Webtoon also sit within the Webtoon Entertainment group.

Spanish-language stories have long been popular on Wattpad and have proven to be fertile ground for adaptations. Titles adapted for the screen include A través de mi ventana (Netflix), Sigue mi voz (Prime Video), Mala Influencia (Netflix) and upcoming Prime Video feature Perfectos Mentirosos. All of these projects were produced by Webtoon Productions, which was formerly known as Wattpad Webtoon Studios.

Other upcoming projects from Webtoon Productions include Sidelined: The QB & Me with Tubi and Lore Olympus for Prime Video.

Espotlight, founded in 2020 by Anxo Rodríguez, has produced titles such as Netflix film Cortafuego, which reached number one on the streamer’s movie chart in more than 30 countries when it premiered in February, as well as Los Farad (Prime Video), You Would Do it Too (Disney+) and Dime Tu Nombre (Prime Video).

Rodríguez, who serves as Espotlight Media CEO, said: “Our passionate goal is to deliver adaptations that satisfy their loyal fanbase while simultaneously reaching a new audience, locally and beyond.”

Webtoon Productions president David Madden added: “Hispanic entertainment has taken the world by storm, and we’ve seen a growing demand for these incredible stories from consumers and the entertainment industry.

“With the sheer volume and massive popularity of Spanish-language titles on Wattpad, we’re excited to work with Espotlight to bring fans more adaptations of the stories they can’t get enough of.”