Wattpad to Be Acquired by Webtoon’s Korean Parent Company in $600 Million-Plus Deal

EXCLUSIVE: Serinda Swan is set to play a young Elizabeth Taylor in Black Label Media’s war movie Devotion, which also stars Jonathan Majors, Glen Powell and Christina Jackson. Joe Jonas and Thomas Sadorski were also recently set to join the cast. Sleight director J.D. Dillard will direct.

Naman Ramachandran In today’s Global Bulletin, Korea’s IU joins the cast of Kore-eda Hirokazu’s “Broker”; Bertelsmann sells Groupe M6; Red Arrow takes series “Blackout”; Shorts festival sets dates; and ITV commissions game show “Moneyball.”Lee Ji-eun, the popular Korean singer-actor better known as IU, has joined the cast of “Broker,” Japanese auteur Kore-eda Hirokazu’s debut Korean-language movie.

Also Read: 'Minari' Film Review: Steven Yeun Leads Charming Drama About Korean Transplants in 1980s Arkansas“Minari” composer Emile MosseriThe story’s universality made an impact on the score’s musical cues.“We didn’t want to have stylistic influences in the score in any sort of calculated way,” Mosseri explained. “There are some subtle ’80s elements baked into the orchestral tapestry of the sound, but we didn’t want to have an ’80s synth score.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefThe mad scramble by Asian streamers and broadcasters to secure Korean TV drama content continued with the announcement by Viu that it is poised to deliver another original series.The Hong Kong-based pan-Asian streamer is poised to release period romantic drama “River Where the Moon Rises” on Feb. 15, 2021.

South Korean actress and model Song Yoo-jung died on Saturday, January 23. She was 26.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefSouth Korean actress Song Yoo-jung has died age 26. The causes are currently unknown.The information was confirmed Song’s representatives at the Sublime Artist Agency.

Also Read: 'Extracurricular' Director Made School Shooting Film as 'Warning' to Society (Video)Ayar said that they contacted the filmmakers of the South Korean film to invite them to Turkey to watch the Turkish version of the film: “They came here and we watched it together. They loved it and during the premiere, we were actually hugging each other with the producer and crying together.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefThe Korean Film Council (KOFIC) is launching an initiative to promote the country’s acting talent on the world stage.

Wattpad has been acquired by the Naver, the South Korean Internet Conglomerate which is also home to the digital comics platform Webtoon.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorWattpad, the user-generated fiction platform and entertainment company, announced that it agreed to be acquired by Korean internet conglomerate Naver, parent of digital comics platform Webtoon, in a deal worth more than $600 million.Seoul-based Naver plans to acquire Wattpad in a cash and stock transaction valued at more than $600 million, subject to customary adjustments and other terms, the companies announced.

Jamie Lang In today’s Global Bulletin, Sky picks up hundreds of hours of Studiocanal feature film content; Banijay aims to raise domestic abuse awareness; GoQuest Media picks pair of Serbian drama series; Oble finds a home on Viu Middle East for “The Outbreak”; Abacus Media Rights snags Kate Beckinsale-narrated dog show doc; Walter Presents acquires three French Canadian series; and Eccho Rights sends a slate of Korean dramas to upstart Turkish streamer Exxen.Sky and Studiocanal have closed a

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefThe Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has appointed academic and critic Kim Young-jin as its new chairman. He replaces Oh Seok-geun who reached the end of his three-year term on Jan.

Joe Jonas and Thomas Sadoski have joined the cast of J.D. Dillard’s Korean War movie Devotion.The pop star and the former The Newsroom actor will star alongside Christina Jackson, Jonathan Majors, and Glen Powell when filming begins in Georgia next month (February 2021), according to Deadline.More movie news hereThe big-budget epic will chart the true story of U.S.