Two Filipino media networks and an independent entertainment company are producing either a series or a movie based on Wattpad serial novels in Filipino.
Wattpad is a social media outlet for pop literature, mostly by authors below 30 years old, including college and graduate school students.
Movie and TV producers are drawn to Wattpad’s reputation. Since 2018, the online book platform has accounted for 7 million Filipino readers every month. The Canada-based Wattpad company has identified the Philippines as its second largest market — next only to the United States.
ABS-CBN is behind the series Teen Clash, its adaptation of the popular Wattpad novel of the same title, starring Jayda Avanzado, Aljon Mendoza, and Markus Paterson. A teaser of the Black Sheep production was shown during the Christmas special on the Kapamilya network.
Set on campus and based on the book by Ilyn Anne Danganan, Teen Clash also features Zach Castañeda, Kobie Brown, Ralph Malibunas, Bianca de Vera, Gail Banawis, Fana, Andrea Abaya, and Luka Alford.
It is directed by Gino M. Santos, who also helmed Love Me Tomorrow and Ex with Benefits.
Teen Clash is preceded by the massive success of another Wattpad novel, He’s into Her, starring Belle Mariano and Donny Pangilinan.
GMA series
Meanwhile, a GMA Network series will premiere on January 2023, an adaptation of the Wattpad novel of VentreCanard, Luv Is: Caught in His Arms.
Airing on weekdays, it stars Sofia Pablo and Allen Ansay or Team Jolly. They play the lead characters Florence and Nero, alongside members of Kapuso “Sparkada” young stars Vince Maristela, Raheel Bhyria, Michael Sager, Sean Lucas, Caitlyn Stave, Cheska Fausto, Tanya Ramos and Kirsten Gonzales.
Caught in His Arms reportedly has more than 55 million reads on Wattpad. It’s about an heiress, Florence, who flees her family after being forced into an arranged marriage by her father. She finds refuge in the home of Don Ferrell, a close family friend.
But her new home has its own drawbacks, including Don Ferrell’s mischievous grandsons. But, over time, she develops a close bond with the Ferrell boys and unexpectedly falls for one of them.
Florence learns the truth about her mother’s death and an enemy from the past emerges, eager to take revenge on her and her family.
VentraCanard is a popular and prolific Wattpad writer, with over 1.7 million followers on the platform, 26 published stories, and 342 million total reads. Caught in His Arms was published in 2020 by Pop Fiction Books.
The new show is a co-production between GMA and Wattpad Webtoon Studios. This early, GMA has lined up another Wattpad novel adaptation, Luv Is: Love at First Read, starring GMA Sparkle loveteam Mavy Legaspi and Kyline Alcantara.
Significantly, the Philippines is home to some of Wattpad’s most influential authors and fandoms, where writers like Jamille Fumah (@JFStories), Abigail De Silva (@CeCeLib), Tina Lata (@blue_maiden) and Maxine Lat Calibuso (@maxinejiji) have millions of followers and reads for their work.
Kumu
Wattpad Webtoon Studios also recently announced a partnership with Kumu, a top social entertainment platform in the Philippines, to adapt Jamille Fumah’s
(@JFStories) Wattpad webnovel Kiss Master into an eight-episode series.