Toronto-based Wattpad has announced an exclusive deal with Wise Entertainment to develop Portuguese-language Wattpad stories as television series and films for audiences in Brazil. The partnership marks Wattpad’s first major development deal in Latin America.
“Wattpad has a community of millions of young people who are sharing these diverse perspectives on a daily basis.”
“Wattpad is where the world’s greatest emerging writers are creating life-changing stories,” said Aron Levitz, head of Wattpad Studios. “Every day, we see the creativity and passion of people finding their voice and building a global audience around it. This mix is exactly why studios are coming to Wattpad to find untold stories with built-in audiences. We’re thrilled to work with Wise Entertainment to bring some of Brazil’s most creative storytellers to screens everywhere.”
Wise Entertainment, known for its content that tells stories for and by underserved audiences, also runs an IP incubator in the country and will work with Wattpad to develop standout teen and YA projects for Brazilian viewers with local writers and producers.
“At Wise Entertainment we are always looking for powerful stories from marginalized voices,” said Mauricio Mota, co-president of Wise Entertainment. “Wattpad has a community of millions of young people who are sharing these diverse perspectives on a daily basis. Wattpad created an ecosystem that is both a storytelling community and a cultural compass for IPs and new voices.”
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Wattpad has achieved global success adapting hit stories for screens. Wattpad is a producer on Hulu’s Emmy-nominated series Light as a Feather, from author Zoe Aarsen, and the Teen Choice Award-winning film and best-selling novel After by Anna Todd, both of which originated on Wattpad. Netflix’s film The Kissing Booth also started as a Wattpad story from writer Beth Reekles.
Wise Entertainment is the latest international entertainment company to strike a deal with Wattpad. The company has major deals and projects in development with partners spanning North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Companies like Sony Pictures Television, Mediacorp, eOne, CBC, and others currently work with Wattpad. In August, the company announced that its Books arm would be partnering with Penguin Random House UK in its first Books expansion into Europe.