Webcomics have taken center stage in an era when Hollywood studios and other powerhouses are looking for new and fresh IPs. With groundbreaking television series like The Walking Dead, The Boys, Invincible, and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, comic books are becoming increasingly popular as they are adapted to the big screen and introduced to different demographics. Do you have a favorite webcomic you want to see adapted into a movie or television series? Comment below and tell us what would make this comic well-suited for the big screen and why.
Months ago, it was first announced that powerhouses Wattpad WEBTOON Studios and Skybound Entertainment would team up to develop a film adaptation of the hit romance webcomic Freaking Romance by WEBTOON Original creator Snailords. For context, the original webcomic Freaking Romance centers on a young woman named Lily who unwillingly moves into a haunted apartment. However, she soon discovers that the ghost haunting her new home is a man separate from her world. Soon enough, a love that defies dimensions begins to unfold. Launched in 2018, Freaking Romance quickly became one of WEBTOON’s biggest hits, eventually earning a hard copy in September 2023 and a paperback in June 2024 produced by WEBTOON Unscrolled.
With this adaptation in the works, readers wonder what else is in store for their favorite webcomics. For example, the Jim Henson Company announced they are developing an animated series based on WEBTOON creator Rachel Smythe’s webcomic sensation Lore Olympus. Meanwhile, Vertigo Entertainment is working to produce Gremoryland, a horror story by creator A. Rasen, and Stampede Ventures is producing the romance hit Chasing Red. And now, Freaking Romance has officially joined the line-up.
Months after the official announcement, highly anticipated, in-depth answers were provided to the Freaking Romance fans. On July 25, WEBTOON and Skybound Entertainment discussed the movie adaptation, its course, and its development for the world of webcomics at The Webcomics Revolution Will Be Televised panel hosted by the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con. As a fan of Snailords’ Freaking Romance and Death: Rescheduled series, I was eager to learn more about the upcoming film adaptation, and I arrived on time and sat in the front row. In the crowd, I was delighted to see a woman cosplaying as the main female lead of Freaking Romance.
Participants of the panel included the WEBTOON creator Snailords, the Wattpad WEBTOON Studios President Aron Levitz, journalist Kayti Burt, film reporter and moderator Katcy Stephan, TV President of The Jim Henson Company Halle Stanford, and TV President of Skybound Entertainment Glenn Geller. When asked questions, panelists promptly answered. Firstly, Aron Levitz was asked what drives the success of webcomics and WEBTOON. Aron responded with “What drives it is you, the fans. It’s fandom built into brilliant storytelling.” As a fan, I loved this answer because it made me feel part of something bigger like I was personally contributing to the success of my favorite comics platform. I love the WEBTOON fandom, and cannot wait to see what’s further in store for fans everywhere.
Next, Aron was asked, “What works as an adaptation? What does Wattpad WEBTOON Studios look for when selecting webcomics that can be adapted?” In response, Aron said, “For us, it’s this beautiful mix of art and science. We look for unique and beautiful storytelling. We want to know there is a story to be told, and we know why fans love certain stories because fans comment. I have an entire team that reads through the comments, understanding WHY fans love certain stories and characters.”
“It doesn’t mean we always just develop the biggest thing on the platform. Sometimes, we look at stories that have important stories to tell and don’t have big followings. We are always on the lookout for more talented creators and beautiful stories.” As a fan and aspiring creator, I was encouraged by this type of response. I hope this can be a reminder that you don’t need a huge following to be noticed by a platform like WEBTOON. Just start, tell your story and readers will find you.
When asked how he became an Original creator with WEBTOON, Snailords said, “I started in CANVAS, and I was in school then. WEBTOON hosted a contest for 30k. I joined the contest. I didn’t win, but I was offered something better: to be hired as a full-time creator with WEBTOON. I have been there since 2015, and I love it.” The moral of the story is to enter the contest. Don’t expect to win a cash prize, but do it to show off your style of storytelling. The unexpected may just happen.
As a reporter on the rise of Korean content worldwide, Kayti Burt was asked, “How do webcomics fit into that rise?” Kayti responded, “I have been a pop culture reporter for over ten years, so I have come to Comic-Cons as a fan and press. Even before I covered Korean pop culture and its rise in the U.S., I had always been interested in stories that inspired this passionate commitment. People will travel across the state, even the country, to come to an experience like Comic-Con. Korean pop culture does that well, whether K-pop, K-dramas, or webtoons.”
“As many of you know, many K-dramas are adapted from webtoons. As someone who reports on the fandoms surrounding these stories and the stories themselves, I think K-dramas based on already-established stories often produce impressive stuff. Webtoons are a massive part of K-dramas, and I believe the media is starting to understand how much people care about this type of storytelling.”
With traditional forms of Hollywood media embracing the new pipeline of IPs, Skybound Entertainment representatives are asked, “What was the draw for The Jim Henson Company with the webcomic hit Lore Olympus, and what has it been like developing the comic into an animated series?” You could tell the audience eagerly awaited an answer. Halle Stanford responded, “First of all, it was a dream come true because I am a massive fan of Lore Olympus. At Henson, we were looking for the next Labyrinth. We were looking for Fantasy Romance, and Lore Olympus checked all our boxes—the sexy king of the Underworld, Hades, and bubbly, spunky, filled with secrets, Persephone.”
“That was the initial draw, but I would also say Rachel Smythe was a huge part of why we went with Lore Olympus—her artwork and style were so different, innovative, and colorful. I also say that, for me, working on a show that tackles the toxic masculinity of running the Underworld and reflects our world.”
Glenn Geller was asked, “How he was approaching the adaptation of Freaking Romance?” In response, Glenn said, “First, we have had a lot of success adapting our own IPs, especially with The Walking Dead and Invincible. But we have had a lot of success with other IPs too. In terms of Freaking Romance, I love good storytelling and I love fantasy, romance, and ghosts, and I understand why it is such a huge hit on the platform. I think it has all the ingredients to make a great adaptation so it makes sense to adapt this particular story to the big screen.”
“I don’t want to make any headlines, I want to say that [Skybound Entertainment] is in deep discussion with WEBTOON to develop two more projects, and I think that when the audience finds out what these projects are about, they will be very excited for what we have cooking.” As a fan, this comment especially piqued my interest. If you have a theory of what webcomics they’re adapting, comment down below. I would love to hear your theories!
The panelists further delved into the importance of fan engagement, encouraging present fans to continue to like, comment, and share their favorite comics with the world because it helps the creators continue and improve their craft. Snailords was asked, “How do you stay engaged with fans?” and he said “My series updates every Friday, and Monday, I am drawing a new page. By Friday, it goes up and people are reading it. I get automatic feedback from fans. I can see what my audience is still interested in, learn what they like and don’t like, and incorporate that into future pages.”
Overall, it was a wonderfully informative panel that delved into the importance of a fanbase and how it contributes to future adaptations. As a fan, I look forward to what WEBTOON and Skybound Entertainment have in store for their fans. If you are a current or aspiring comic creator, use this as a lesson. You don’t need a massive fan base to be successful. You just need yourself, your story, and fans who will love your work for what it is.
