Graphic Novels to Watch in 2026: The Orangery’s Hits and Emerging IP

Too many releases, not enough time: which graphic novels will actually become movies or series in 2026?

If you follow comics, streaming, and pop‑culture IP, the problem is familiar: an avalanche of promising graphic novels, endless rumor mills and a handful of official signings. You want quick clarity — a curated list that separates true adaptation candidates from flash‑in‑the‑pan buzz. This guide cuts through that noise with a focused look at The Orangery’s catalog and other graphic novels most likely to cross screens in 2026, plus practical advice for fans, creators and industry pros tracking or building adaptation-ready IP.

The bottom line, fast

Why 2026 matters: transmedia studios and talent agencies are actively pairing global graphic IP with streaming platforms, and The Orangery’s recent deal-making signals more European-origin stories entering the pipeline. Expect more limited-series launches, adult‑streaming features and serialized audio adaptations this year.

“WME has signed The Orangery, which holds rights to graphic novel hits like ‘Traveling to Mars’ and ‘Sweet Paprika.’”

This move is emblematic of a broader 2025–26 trend: agencies and streamers favor ready‑made visual IP with engaged communities and clear transmedia hooks.

How we judged adaptation potential (methodology you can use)

To keep recommendations actionable, we apply a repeatable scoring framework used by development executives in 2026. For each title we evaluate five dimensions and score them qualitatively (Low / Medium / High):

• Readership Momentum — sales trends, digital reads, social buzz, BookTok/Webtoon traction.
• Visual Distinctiveness — can the art style translate into a unique cinematic look?
• Character & Story Depth — series potential, emotional hooks, franchise viability.
• Adaptation Practicality — budget demands, special effects complexity, age‑rating fit.
• Transmedia Hooks — merchandising, game or podcast potential, global appeal.

Below we apply this framework to The Orangery’s confirmed hits and a curated set of other graphic novels that, by these measures, are prime candidates to move to screen in 2026.

The Orangery spotlight: why industry attention matters

The Orangery — a European transmedia studio founded by Davide G.G. Caci — consolidated several high‑performing graphic titles and recently signed with WME. That agency backing accelerates packaging: top agents bring producers, adaptors and streamer relationships together faster. For readers, that means titles in The Orangery’s catalog have a shortened path from page to screen.

How the WME sign changes the math

• Faster option cycles: projects move from option to pitch in months, not years.
• Cross‑border deals: European IP is now packaged with U.S. talent, increasing global marketability.
• Transmedia-first planning: WME’s involvement typically includes audio, short animation and merchandising strategies alongside screen development.

Orangery Catalog: Titles to Watch

Traveling to Mars — high science‑fiction momentum

Pitch in two lines: a visually ambitious sci‑fi series that blends retro futurism with human‑scale drama. Marketed as a hit in the graphic‑novel space, its strengths are world‑building and a cinematic color palette.

• Readership Momentum: High — strong digital serialization and fan art activity.
• Visual Distinctiveness: High — art leans into bold, cinematic compositions ideal for live‑action VFX or high‑end animation.
• Character & Story Depth: High — ensemble cast with season‑long arcs.
• Adaptation Practicality: Medium — effects budget required but story modularity suits limited series.
• Transmedia Hooks: High — potential for VR experiences, illustrated companion podcasts and collectible art editions.

Cinematic recommendation: packaged as an 8–10 episode prestige limited series for a streamer with a strong sci‑fi slate. Visual directors with a background in stylized VFX would elevate the art into a signature screen look.

Sweet Paprika — adult, stylish, and built for prestige streaming

This title leans into sensual noir and character psychology. Its storytelling beats and mature themes make it a prime candidate for adult‑streaming platforms that want compact, conversation‑driving series.

• Readership Momentum: Medium–High — engaged adult readership and boutique press coverage.
• Visual Distinctiveness: Medium — stylized, moody art that translates well into live‑action cinematography or limited‑run animation.
• Character & Story Depth: High — character‑driven arcs with strong lead performance potential.
• Adaptation Practicality: High — low‑to‑medium effects needs, feasible as a feature or 6‑episode series.
• Transmedia Hooks: Medium — soundtrack and fashion collaborations could boost cross‑platform reach.

Cinematic recommendation: limited streaming series with a strong lead and auteur director. A composer and fashion collab would amplify social sharing and press.

Other Orangery catalog pieces to monitor

The Orangery’s playbook focuses on visually rich single‑voice projects that work across formats. Expect more European auteur graphic novels in their slate — watch for titles with distinct art languages and clear central protagonists; those are the most likely to be fast‑tracked.

Other graphic novels primed for adaptation in 2026

Beyond The Orangery’s immediate slate, several categories of graphic novels are trending with buyers and audiences in 2026. Below are representative titles and categories to watch, with why they matter to studios and fans.

1. Serialized webcomics with massive digital followings

Why they matter: Platforms like Webtoon and Tapas continue powering screen‑ready IP because their serialized structure mirrors episodic TV. In 2026, studios lean into webcomic hits that already demonstrate retention across chapters.

Example candidates: recent Webtoon chart‑toppers and serialized sci‑fi romance hybrids. These properties often bring built‑in audiences and lower development risk.

2. Artistic prestige graphic novels with awards momentum

Why they matter: Festivals and awards create prestige and attract premium streamer attention. Visually inventive, auteur‑driven books are being packaged as limited series with a clear festival strategy.

Example candidates: multi‑award graphic stories with standout art — prime for art‑house streaming and episodic anthology formats.

3. Genre hybrid works (fantasy + social drama)

Why they matter: These combine world‑building with social relevancy, which resonates on global platforms looking for both spectacle and conversation. They’re attractive for franchise play and localization.

4. Character‑driven adult dramas (low VFX, high awards upside)

Why they matter: Not every adaptation needs a blockbuster budget. Intimate, character‑first graphic novels can convert to prestige features or short limited series — attractive to networks with awards ambitions.

Five specific titles (broadly representative) to watch in 2026

Below we name five graphic novels or series that fit 2026 buyer preferences. Note: we frame these as adaptation candidates, not confirmed deals.

1. Traveling to Mars (The Orangery) — see above. High sci‑fi momentum and transmedia impulses.
2. Sweet Paprika (The Orangery) — see above. Adult, stylish drama for streaming.
3. Serialized Webtoon Sci‑Fi Rom‑Noir Hits — unnamed individual titles have high read counts and actively drive fandom creation; perfect episodic candidates.
4. Awarded auteur graphic novels — visually inventive books winning festival attention; ideal for limited prestige adaptations.
5. Indie fantasy series with strong female leads — these align with ongoing streamer demand for female‑led franchises and global merch opportunities.

How to read adaptation signals in 2026 (practical checklist)

If you want to identify the next screen‑ready graphic novel, use this practical checklist that mirrors studio due diligence:

• Community activity: sustained fan art, memes, and discussion threads are better signals than one‑time spikes.
• Serial structure: chapter breaks and clear season arcs = easy episodic mapping.
• Distinct visual language: unique art styles invite directors and showrunners looking for signature looks.
• Global sensibility: stories that translate across cultures (emotionally universal themes) are favored by global streamers in 2026.
• Creator availability: creators open to development and collaboration speed up packaging. Keep an eye on creator social handles for partnership signals.

Actionable advice for three audiences

For fans who want to follow adaptations

• Follow agencies and top transmedia studios — WME, major European boutiques and The Orangery — on industry feeds (Variety, Deadline) for early alerts.
• Track BookScan, Webtoon charts and Goodreads lists for momentum; set social alerts for spike events.
• Support creators directly (Kickstarter, Patreon, convention signings) — studios notice high‑engagement communities.

For creators building adaptation‑ready IP

• Design with transmedia in mind: include episodic beats, visual motifs and marketable elements (unique technology, clear franchise hooks).
• Retain clear subsidiary rights where possible; simplify rights chains to attract buyers quicker in 2026’s fast packaging market.
• Build proof‑of‑concept media: short animated scenes, composer demos or motion comics to convey cinematic potential.

For producers and development execs

• Use the five‑dimension framework above for quick green‑light conversations.
• Prioritize partnerships with transmedia studios that already aggregate IP and community data (The Orangery is an example of this model).
• Budget smart: pair higher‑cost VFX projects with short‑form or animated pilots to de‑risk initial commitments.

2026 development trends you should factor into every adaptation decision

• Agency and studio convergence: Talent agencies increasingly act as packagers, combining talent, IP and financing early.
• Short‑form animation as a testing ground: Platforms prefer pilots or animated shorts to gauge audience reaction before committing to live‑action seasons.
• AI tools and ethical art use: AI‑assisted concept art speeds design, but rights clarity around trained models is now a legal and PR issue.
• Global distribution first: Projects that can be localized quickly (language, cast, cultural adapters) get greenlit faster in a consolidated streamer market.
• Audio and podcast serialization: Audio adaptations are low‑cost proofs of concept that build audiences pre‑launch.

Risks and red flags

Even promising graphic novels carry adaptation risks. Be skeptical if:

• Fan interest is shallow — lots of likes but no sustained discussion.
• Rights are fragmented across multiple publishers and creators without clear chain of title.
• The visual world demands blockbuster VFX with no modular story to lower production costs.

Case study: Packaging Traveling to Mars for a streamer (short blueprint)

Below is a development blueprint used by senior execs in 2026 to turn graphic novels into streamer pitches.

1. Secure an exclusive option with clear subsidiary rights for animation and audio.
2. Produce a 4–6 minute visual proof of concept — mood boards, animated sequences, and a thematic teaser.
3. Attach a boutique director known for stylized visuals and an attached lead actor to anchor the pitch.
4. Package with a transmedia plan: two‑part podcast prequel and a limited merch drop timed with pitch meetings.
5. Target platforms with appetite for sci‑fi limited series and strong international penetration.

Final read: What to watch in 2026

In 2026, the most watched graphic‑to‑screen projects will be those with three qualities: engaged communities, distinct visual languages and adaptable story structures. The Orangery’s WME alignment accelerates a trend we’ll see more of this year: European transmedia IP moving into global development pipelines.

Traveling to Mars and Sweet Paprika are two clear early indicators of this wave — high visual intent, targeted audiences and agency support. But the same principles apply across indie webcomics and prestige graphic novels: if a title checks the readership + visual + transmedia boxes, it’s likely on a fast path to screen in 2026.

Takeaways (quick reference)

• Watch The Orangery’s slate: WME’s involvement makes their catalog a priority for adaptation news.
• Use the five‑dimension framework: Readership, visuals, story depth, practicality and transmedia hooks predict adaptation success.
• For creators: Design for transmedia, retain clear rights, and build visual proofs.
• For fans: Follow agency signings, major webcomic charts and creator channels for the earliest alerts.

Call to action

Want curated alerts on which graphic novels are moving to screen next? Subscribe to our weekly briefing for production alerts, creator interviews and short visual primers. Follow our coverage and share which titles you think will break through in 2026 — we’ll track community favorites and report back as deals happen.

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