NL Film Pacts with Wattpad

Endemol Shine Group-owned NL Film has landed the first-look rights to adapt Dutch-language stories from Wattpad, with a focus on TV series and films for young adults.

Tapping into Wattpad’s proprietary Story DNA machine learning technology, NL Film, a part of Endemol Shine Nederland, will identify stories with built-in fan bases to adapt for films and TV series aimed at YA audiences. NL Film’s credits include Floor Rules, Netflix’s The Resistance Banker and the award-winning The Menten Case.

Kaja Wolffers, creative director of NL Film, commented, “NL Film is committed to bringing the best and most suited content to viewers and does that by understanding its audience’s needs. This deal with Wattpad helps us to continue to deliver engaging drama and find fresh and new perspectives. Wattpad reaches audiences that can’t be reached with standard media. The insight we get from the feedback and interaction data of their users is very informative and valuable for the development of new projects.”

Aron Levitz, head of Wattpad Studios, added, “Entertainment companies around the world are increasingly looking to data and technology to help identify new voices, and then make data-backed decisions during development. Wattpad’s global community offers an untapped pool of talent, and we’re excited to partner with NL Film to highlight our Dutch-language writers, giving them an opportunity to see their stories brought to life on the screen.”

In the last year, Wattpad has struck similar pacts with Sony Pictures Television, Mediacorp, Lagardere Studios, iflix, SYFY, Huayi Brothers Korea and Bavaria Fiction, among others.