NBCUniversal Formats will be offering up the adaptation rights to a Wordle game show, which has been commissioned at NBC from Universal Television Alternative Studio (UTAS), in partnership with Jimmy Fallon’s Electric Hot Dog and The New York Times.
The format brings to life the popular word game, which launched in 2021 and was acquired by The New York Times in 2022. It reaches millions of players across the globe. The NBC version will be hosted by avid Wordle fan Savannah Guthrie.
“Wordle is one of the most successful and culturally resonant games of the past decade,” said Sharon Vuong, EVP of unscripted programming at NBC. “This series is a natural extension of NBC’s legacy in the game show space, and with the incredible Savannah at the helm and our partners at UTAS, Electric Hot Dog, and The New York Times, we’re excited to bring a smart, joyful, and distinctly NBC take to this global phenomenon.”
“Several years ago, The New York Times began developing a Wordle game show. Teaming up with Jimmy Fallon to develop the game for NBC was a perfect fit,” says Caitlin Roper, executive editorial director of film and TV at the Times. “We wanted to honor the specific thrill of Wordle, the way people play and share their scores with each other, but also make something new for TV. Like Jimmy, Savannah is a passionate Wordle player–she even solved on TV in Times Square. No one gets what our contestants will go through like she does.”
Production on the show is set to begin later this year with a 2027 premiere. Wes Kauble will also executive produce and serve as showrunner.
