Case Study: The Orangery and WME — How Graphic Novels Move from Page to Screen

When your graphic novel deserves more than shelves: why creators struggle to turn comics into screen-ready IP

Most comic writers and illustrators know the frustration: you build an engaged readership, craft a world with cinematic potential, but navigating agents, studios, and transmedia deals feels like learning a new language—fast. Rights get signed away, projects stall in development, and creators are often shut out of the adaptation process. In 2026, with more buyers than ever hunting for proven IP, knowing how to package, protect, and pitch your work is no longer optional—it’s strategic.

The Orangery + WME: what happened and why it matters

In mid-January 2026, Variety reported that The Orangery, a European transmedia studio founded by Davide G.G. Caci, signed with WME (William Morris Endeavor). The Orangery controls promising graphic novel IP such as the sci-fi series Traveling to Mars and the genre-bending romance Sweet Paprika. This is not just a representation deal; it's a signal: major agencies are actively packaging transmedia IP studios to streamline adaptations for film, TV, gaming, and merchandising.

For creators, that signing crystallizes a 2026 reality: gatekeepers want proven world-building, and full-service intermediaries (transmedia studios + top agencies) are becoming the fastest route from page to screen.

Why WME’s involvement accelerates transmedia conversions

• Studio and studio-financing access: WME connects IP holders to global streamers and studios fast—reducing the time a concept spends in development limbo.
• Packaging power: Agents at WME can assemble writers, directors, and talent packages that make an adaptation greenlight-ready. See how modern creator toolchains and packaging approaches are evolving in coverage of the new power stack for creators.
• International reach: WME’s global footprint amplifies projects beyond local markets—essential for multilingual or culturally rooted graphic novels.
• License leverage: Agencies can negotiate multi-platform deals (streaming, theatrical, games, merch), maximizing upside for IP owners.

What The Orangery’s strategy reveals about modern transmedia success

The Orangery’s approach mirrors emerging best practices in transmedia: curate high-concept IP, maintain creator-forward relationships, and package properties with cross-platform storytelling in mind. From the outside, three strategic pillars are clear:

1. Intentional IP curation

Rather than hoarding every comic property, The Orangery focuses on titles with strong visual identities and expandable worlds—like Traveling to Mars, which lends itself to serial sci‑fi, and Sweet Paprika, which can bridge adult drama streaming and lifestyle merchandising. For creators: the lesson is to build IP that can be modularized for multiple formats.

2. Creating transmedia-ready bibles and decks

Successful transmedia studios package an intellectual property (IP) with detailed bibles that include character arcs, visual references, tone guides, and story seeds for adaptations. These aren't optional extras; they're sales tools. The Orangery’s ability to attract WME indicates their IP came with clear adaptation pathways.

3. Balancing creator control with commercial partnerships

Early reports suggest The Orangery positions itself as both a rights holder and a steward for creator interests—making it more attractive to top agencies. This balance is crucial: studios and agents want defensible control but also need creator buy-in to maintain authenticity.

Trends (2025–2026) shaping transmedia deals you must know

• Streaming consolidation and content hunger: As streamers consolidated in late 2025 and early 2026, demand for recognizable IP surged. Graphic novels are prime candidates because they come with built-in visuals and audiences. For different platform types and emerging free channels, see forecasts on free film platforms.
• Global co-productions: European and non-U.S. IP saw more cross-border deals, driven by tax incentives and regional content quotas—benefiting studios like The Orangery that are Europe-based.
• AI-assisted development: Tools for storyboarding, automated concept art, and voice synthesis accelerated pre-production—but they also raised rights and moral‑rights questions creators must negotiate into contracts. Expect to see clauses tied to generative agent use and permissions.
• Merchandising & gaming tie-ins: Buyers increasingly expect IP to be adaptable into games and merchandise; comic creators who prepare these routes capture higher deal value.

Practical lessons for comic writers and illustrators

Whether you're self-publishing, working with an indie press, or running a boutique studio, the following playbook translates The Orangery/WME moment into actionable next steps.

1. Build a transmedia-ready IP dossier

Actionable items:

• Create a one-page hook: logline + unique selling points (visual style, audience, tone). For launch sequencing and micro-launch tactics, refer to the Micro‑Launch Playbook.
• Develop a 10–15 page adaptation bible: character bios, season arcs, pilot treatment (for TV), beat sheet (for film), and potential spin-offs.
• Include visual references: character sheets, location art, and a short pitch reel or animatic where possible.

2. Track and present audience signals

Studios and agents want proof. Build a simple analytics packet:

• Sales and distribution numbers (print and digital).
• Social engagement: followers, conversion rates, newsletter growth.
• Fan activity: fan art, cosplay, community-led events.

3. Know your rights before you negotiate

Most creators sign early and regret it later. Learn the basic rights terms so you can protect your upside:

• Option vs. purchase: An option gives a studio time to develop with stipulated payments; a purchase transfers rights outright.
• First-look: Offers the buyer priority to match any third‑party deal—useful if you want to maintain leverage.
• Merchandising & subsidiary rights: Negotiate carve-outs or revenue splits for games, merchandising, and collectibles.
• Crediting & creative participation: Secure producer credits, consultation fees, or writer/co-producer roles if you want creative influence.

4. Choose representation wisely: agent vs manager vs transmedia partner

Understanding roles matters:

• Agent (e.g., WME): Broker deals, package talent, negotiate contract terms—capitalizes on market access.
• Manager: Develops career strategy and secures opportunities; more hands-on artist support.
• Transmedia studio (e.g., The Orangery): May hold rights and invest in development—serves as product manager for IP across platforms.

Tip: If approached by a transmedia studio, insist on transparency about downstream deals (who keeps what share) and ensure an entertainment attorney reviews any template contracts.

5. Prepare for AI-era clauses

AI tools changed how concepts are developed. Expect clauses around:

• Use of generative art or voice synthesis in adaptations.
• Rights to derivatives created using AI-assisted tools.
• Moral rights for characters and original art to prevent misuse. Consider how permissions and data flows for generative agents will be written into deals.

Negotiation checklist: clauses to prioritize

When a studio or agency like WME comes knocking, these are the specific items to push for or clarify:

1. Term and territory: Define duration of control and geographic scope clearly.
2. Option fee and purchase price: Ensure payments are meaningful and staggered to milestones.
3. Reversion rights: If development stalls for X years, rights revert to the creator automatically.
4. Back-end participation: Percentage of profits, gross vs net definitions, and audit rights.
5. Approval rights: For certain elements (character portrayal, title use), secure limited approval or consultation roles.
6. Merchandising splits: Explicit revenue shares or minimum guarantees for downstream products.
7. Credit and billing: Defined screen credit and placement in marketing assets.

Case-by-case: sample scenarios and recommended creator responses

Scenario A — Small studio offers an exclusive option with low fee

Recommended response: negotiate a higher fee, limit the option term to 12–18 months with clear deliverables, and include a reversion clause if no financing greenlight occurs.

Scenario B — Major agency packages your IP with a star but requests broad buyout

Recommended response: seek a co-ownership structure or significant back-end participation. Demand performance milestones for buyout tranches and ensure compensation for any ancillary revenue streams.

Scenario C — Transmedia studio wants exclusive merchandising control

Recommended response: carve out certain product categories (e.g., tabletop games, NFT/licensing) or negotiate minimum guarantees and approval rights for designs.

Real-world checklist to prepare your IP in 90 days

Follow this condensed action plan, inspired by The Orangery’s playbook, to make your work agency-ready within three months.

• Week 1–2: Finalize a one-page hook and 3–5 page series/film treatments.
• Week 3–4: Build a 10–15 page adaptation bible and basic pitch deck with visual assets.
• Week 5–6: Aggregate audience metrics and prepare a one-sheet analytics packet.
• Week 7: Draft a simple rights map (who owns what) and list desired carve-outs.
• Week 8–10: Compile contact list of agents, managers, and transmedia studios to pitch; start outreach.
• Week 11–12: Engage an entertainment attorney for contract templates and negotiable clause redlines.

Risks and red flags—learn from other creators’ mistakes

• Giving away all subsidiary rights for a modest upfront fee—you lose long-term upside.
• Signing ambiguous “work-for-hire” language that erases creator ownership.
• Failing to define timelines, allowing projects to sit in development without reversion.
• Not negotiating AI and moral-rights protections, which can lead to character misuse.

“A transmedia deal should feel like an expansion plan, not a divestiture.”

Putting it together: a recommended negotiation posture

Position yourself as both an artist and a product owner. Your posture should be:

• Prepared: Bring numbers, a bible, and a roadmap.
• Protective: Prioritize reversion and carve-outs.
• Collaborative: Offer creative participation without demanding full control.
• Future-focused: Demand clear terms for emergent tech (AI) and new platforms (games, AR/VR).

Final notes: why The Orangery-WME pairing is a moment to act

The Orangery signing with WME is more than news—it’s proof the market is actively consolidating around curated comic IP with transmedia potential. For creators, the window is now: buyers want packaged IP with clear cross-platform trajectories. Being passive is costly; being prepared can multiply your creative and financial returns.

Actionable takeaways

• Create a transmedia bible and visual pitch deck for your comic.
• Collect and present audience metrics to prove commercial traction.
• Engage an entertainment lawyer early—don’t negotiate alone.
• Negotiate reversion rights, back-end participation, and AI/moral-rights protections.
• Consider partnering with a transmedia studio but insist on transparency and creator protections.

Call to action

If you’re a comic creator ready to move from page to screen, start by auditing your IP using our free 90-day transmedia checklist. Join our upcoming workshop where industry attorneys, transmedia producers, and agents (including former agency executives) break down real contracts and run live negotiation simulations. Don’t wait for an offer—build one.

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