Webtoon, Wattpad’s sister platform that specializes in digital comics, rolled out a similar pay-to-read-ahead or wait-to-read-for-free model in the U.S. in 2019.

Hollywood needs proven IP. Madden thinks his new company Wattpad Webtoon has a goldmine: webcomics and online novels already vetted by millions of readers. He’s seen a lot. At Berlanti Prods ...