Maxton Hall and The Culpables have set streaming alight, smashing viewing records and bringing in a prized younger demo. As the influence of BookTok and the social chatter around key titles grows, a raft of young adult and Wattpad titles are set for the film and TV treatment in 2026.
We run the rule over what’s cooking for 2026 and dish up a tip sheet for the year ahead. It’s safe to say, love is in the air. So is horror and the paranormal.
Whose House? Ron’s House
Mercedes Ron is a Wattpad star writer, so much so that Prime Video has created a ‘House Of Ron’ brand for all of the upcoming film and series interpretations of her novels. Ron’s Culpables series has defined the modern era of Wattpad adaptations, and in Culpa Mia (My Fault), Culpa Tuya (Your Fault) and Culpa Nuestra (Our Fault) have delivered Prime a hit franchise.
Ivory & Ebony Wrapped
Watch on Deadline
Two Enfrentados movies are coming, based on Ron’s two-book series. Marfíl (Ivory) and Ébano (Ebony) are made by Pokeepsie Films, which produced the Culpables trilogy and they tell us they are taking things up a level with the new movies. Ester Expósito (Élite) plays Marfil, the daughter of a Spanish tycoon whose NYC lifestyle is shaken after she is kidnapped and then released. Hugo Diego García (The Substance) is Sebastian, who is recruited as her bodyguard. The two movies were filmed back-to-back and shooting took place in Spain and New York.
Boulevard Of Forbidden Romance
The first three of Flor M. Salvador’s ‘Boulevard’ series have racked up over 140M reads on Wattpad, and a fourth instalment is on the way. Hopes are high for the movie adaptations, with Sony Pictures and Webtoon making the features. The first movie, Boulevard, is in production in Spain with a screenplay from the pen of YA author Javier Ruescas. The books trace the forbidden romance between high school students Halsey Weigel and Luke Howland. She knows she should stay away from Luke, but is inexplicably drawn to him, seeing beyond the damaged exterior that everyone else is quick to judge.
Running Hot: Chasing Red
Chasing Red is filming in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, and is another much-anticipated Wattpad movie adaptation. Based on Isabelle Ronin’s novel, the plot turns on a straight-A student, Veronica, who refuses to be college heartthrob Caleb’s latest conquest…despite the undeniable chemistry between them. Circumstances see Veronica end up under Caleb’s roof, and secrets unravel in the slow-burn romance. Madelaine Petsch (The Strangers) and Gavin Casalegno (The Summer I Turned Pretty) have signed on as the leads. Mackenzie Munro directs from Lauren Schacher’s screenplay. Stampede Ventures produces alongside Wattpad Webtoon Studios.
Three’s A Charm: Third Shift Society
Flipping the script from webnovel to webcomic, and romance to paranormal, is Third Shift Society. Another one from Wattpad Webtoon Studios, Rehab Entertainment and the Jim Henson Company are also on board the adaptation of Meredith Moriarty’s title. It is being worked up as a supernatural series with Ray Utarnachitt (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow) on writing detail. The story follows Ellie whose world is upended when she meets paranormal detective Ichabod, who may hold answers to her psychic powers. The pair investigate paranormal mysteries involving ghosts, vampires, witches, demons, and more.
Something’s Wrong In Stagtown
Another webcomic adaptation in the works is Stagtown, with Benjamin Brewer, Lead VFX Artist on Everything Everywhere All at Once, writing and directing, and Margot Robbie’s Lucky Chap Entertainment and Wattpad Webtoon Studios producing. Comic artist Punko created ‘Stagtown’, and Brewer will bring it to life as a live-action movie. The webcomic follows Frankie, Jeremy, and Felix as they discover something is terribly wrong in the town of Stagtown and attempt to escape the horrors that the residents ignore.
From The Heart: Love Me Love Me
June White moves to Italy for a fresh start after her brother’s death. At her new elite school, she is drawn to James, a dangerous bully involved in clandestine MMA fights, but then begins dating his best friend, Will. That’s the set-up for Love Me Love Me, an Italian YA movie, based on the first novel in the four-book series from Stefania S, and which has notched 23M-plus views. Prime Video has talked up the global appeal of the picture, which starts streaming in early 2026.
Drive Get Into Gear
Tamara Lush has been one of Wattpad’s most popular writers for some time and has finally landed her first feature adaptation with her 2022 Wattpad original, Drive. The story follows a young female race-car mechanic who pretends to be engaged to the most scandalous racing star in the scene – officially for his reputation, but secretly to get her own chance behind the wheel. Soon the lie threatens to destroy everything, including what has long since become more than just a game. Amazon has teamed with Bavaria Fiction to adapt the webnovel, which Karsten Guenther is producing, Chris Silber and Malina Nwabuonwor wrote the screenplay, and Sergej Moya is directing. The film is set for a 2026 release.
Bad Boy’s Girl On The Starting Grid
Spanish filmmaker Marçal Forés began shooting his latest feature, Bad Boy’s Girl, in early December. The film is adapted from the hugely popular Wattpad novel series of the same name, written by Blair Holde. The movie is a co-production between Italy and Spain with Lotus Production and Diamond Films España on board. The story follows Tessa O’Connell, who has only two goals for senior year: to keep her head down, and to get over the heartbreak of seeing her longtime crush date her ex-best friend.