Webtoon Intellectual Property Grows in Hollywood and Emerging Markets

Korean webtoons are making waves in the entertainment industry, as major studios are jumping on the bandwagon to adapt these beloved stories for film and streaming platforms. One industry insider shared that global studios are loving webtoon intellectual property because the stories are already well-developed and have a built-in fanbase.

One exciting project in the works is the live-action adaptation of the English-language webtoon “ShootAround.” This zombie horror-comedy series has racked up an impressive 28 million views worldwide. The screenplay will be crafted by Ayanna K. White, known for her work on popular shows like Apple TV+’s “Severance” and Netflix’s “The Night Agent.” The film will be a collaboration between Webtoon Entertainment and Lion Forge Entertainment.

Webtoon Entertainment is not stopping there—they are teaming up with big names like Disney, Prime Video, and Warner Bros. Animation to bring even more webtoon adaptations to life. One highly anticipated project is the animated series “Lore Olympus,” based on the award-winning webtoon of the same name. Co-produced with the Jim Henson Company, this series will debut on Prime Video.

But it’s not just in the U.S. where webtoons are making a splash. Kross Pictures, a production company in Korea, recently wrapped up filming for the Indian series “Love Always,” based on the Kakao webtoon “Stay Together or Not.” Set to premiere on India’s JioHotstar, this marks the first officially remade Korean webtoon IP in India.

With the entertainment industry shifting towards established IP, webtoons are poised to continue their expansion into films, series, and more. The existing fanbases of these beloved webtoons bring early awareness and attract viewers, making these adaptations even more appealing to production companies. The future looks bright for webtoon fans around the globe!