Transmedia IP Studio the Orangery, Behind Hit Graphic Novel Series ‘Traveling to Mars’ and ‘Sweet Paprika,’ Signs With WME (EXCLUSIVE)

The William Morris Agency has signed recently formed European transmedia outfit The Orangery, which holds the rights to strong IP in the graphic novel and comic book sphere such as hit sci-fi series “Traveling to Mars” and the steamy “Sweet Paprika.”

The Orangery was founded by Italy’s Davide G.G. Caci, CEO of the Turin-based Arancia Studio, an Italian IP development powerhouse that works with global publishers including Disney, Marvel and DC comics; producer and screenwriter Alessandro Regaldo; and transmedia and publishing exec Renato Franchi, who has worked in senior roles at Italy’s Panini Comics and Star Comics and most recently launched the Abu Dhabi-based studio Sandstorm Comics.

Titles with a strong focus on comics, manga and webtoon production developed by The Orangery have been published in more than 25 countries, reaching sales of over 3 million copies, according to a WME statement. They include “Hexware,” the supernatural cyberpunk horror comic book series created by writer Tim Seeley and artist Zulema Scotto Lavina.

Their top titles are U.S. comic book creator Mark Russell and Italy’s Roberto Meli’s  Traveling to Mars,” which tells the tale of a former pet store manager who is the first human to ever set foot on Mars, and U.S.-based Italian artist Mirka Andolfo’s “Sweet Paprika,” about a career-driven woman’s erotic misadventures. Andolfo’s works have sold over 1 million copies globally.

Many of The Orangery’s works are published in the U.S. by Image Comics.

The Orangery, which was set up to develop, curate and produce multimedia stories, is preparing to launch roughly 20 new original properties across film, TV, gaming and podcast formats over the next two years.

“From the very beginning, The Orangery has been built as a European IP engine with a global mindset,” WME said in a statement. “We work at the intersection of publishing, storytelling and format design, creating the properties meant to expand naturally across media. WME understands this approach deeply. Their global reach and strategic vision make them the ideal partner to help our stories evolve into truly international, cross-media franchises.”

Pictured above, from left to right: Renato Franchi, Alessandro Regaldo, Davide G.G. Caci