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‘Culpables’ Producer On Breaking YA Before The Boom; Banijay’s Steve Matthews Discusses All3Media Merger
The Culpables trilogy, produced by Pokeepsie and released on Prime Video, has become a streaming phenomenon with over 100 million viewers, yet the producer reveals that finding a buyer for these young adult adaptations took years when the genre was unfashionable. This success highlights how rapidly the YA market has transformed, with numerous productions now following the Culpables' path and establishing Spain as a particularly fertile production hub.
Carolina Bang, CEO of Pokeepsie, recounted that it took three years to sell the Culpables project when studios were reluctant to invest in young adult content five years ago. Following the trilogy's success, the company has continued producing YA content for Prime Video, including Drawn Together (Enfrentados), which quickly became the streamer's top release. Whilst the original author Mercedes Ron has published a fourth book in the series, there has been no announcement regarding a fourth film adaptation. Meanwhile, Banijay Entertainment's recent merger with All3Media is expected to maintain creative independence, with executives emphasising that industry contraction is actually elevating the quality of greenlit projects.
In short
- Culpables trilogy reaches 100 million viewers after three years finding a buyer
- Young adult content now thrives after being unfashionable five years ago
- Banijay-All3Media merger maintains creative control amid industry contraction
Explained simply
Young adult adaptations—stories aimed at teenage audiences—have become a major focus for streaming services in recent years, with shows like the Culpables trilogy on Prime Video reaching audiences of over 100 million viewers. Five years ago, however, studios were reluctant to invest in such projects, and producers struggled to find backing for young adult content. The rapid transformation reflects how quickly entertainment tastes and investment priorities can shift.
Pokeepsie, a Spanish production company, spent three years seeking financing for the Culpables project before finally securing backing, and has since released additional young adult adaptations for Prime Video. The original author Mercedes Ron has written further books in the series, though no additional film adaptations have been announced. Spain has emerged as a particularly significant hub for young adult production.
The growth in such productions has contributed to consolidation in the entertainment industry, with Banijay Entertainment recently merging with All3Media to combine their resources. Executives from both organisations have emphasised that whilst consolidation changes how content is developed, it may elevate the quality of projects produced.
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