NBC has greenlit “Wordle” for television. The series, which will premiere in 2027, will be hosted by Today anchor Savannah Guthrie and produced by Jimmy Fallon and The New York Times, which owns and operates the original mobile game.
Mr. Guthrie and Mr. Fallon announced the green light for “Wordle,” which Mr. Guthrie has anchored since 2012, during Monday’s broadcast of “Today.” Mr. Guthrie took a hiatus from his NBC morning news show in early February amid the disappearance of his 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, and the ensuing FBI investigation. Guthrie returned to “Today” on April 6, although the search for her mother continues and has garnered national attention.
According to NBC’s official description, Guthrie is himself an avid Wordle player, and the TV version of the game “challenges players to solve five-letter word puzzles in a super-scale battle of smarts, speed, and fun. It builds on the way the puzzle community comes together every day on Wordle: solving together, sharing wins, discussing strategies, and cheering each other on. Now that play! Style comes to life as the most immersive and competitive players team up to compete in the ‘Wordle’ arena and play for incredible prizes. ”
Casting has begun for “Wordle,” and production on the show is expected to begin later this year.
In a Q&A about the new show published by The New York Times, Jonathan Knight, the company’s head of games, said, “‘Wordle’ is already a socially shared experience. People don’t just play it, they talk about it, compare results, and solve it together.” Developing the game show was therefore about “translating the real-life experience of playing Wordle with friends and delivering what Wordle fans expect. That meant thinking through the show’s gameplay structure, the pacing and the way players interact.”
Wordle was reported to be in development in October. The series is executive produced by Jimmy Fallon through his Electric Hot Dog banner. “Wordle” joins Fallon, who hosts “That’s My Jam” and “On Brand” in addition to “The Tonight Show,” and is also producing the reboot of “Passwords,” hosted by KeKi Palmer.
Universal Television Alternative Studios produces “Wordle” in partnership with Electric Hot Dog and The New York Times. The original mobile game was created by software engineer Josh Wardle in 2021, acquired by The New York Times in 2022, and attracts millions of players every day. Executive producers include Fallon and Jim Juvonen of Electric Hot Dog, Caitlin Roper and Knight of The New York Times. Wes Cauble will also serve as executive producer and showrunner. The “Wordle” format is licensed by NBCUniversal Formats.
“I am so honored to be working with Savannah Guthrie on this show,” Fallon said in a statement. “Savannah has a rare combination of intelligence, charm and warmth that makes anyone feel immediately welcome. And she clearly knows how to host a show. I’m so proud and happy. I think we’ve developed a solid gamer for prime time.”
“‘Wordle’ has been one of the most successful and culturally resonant games of the past decade,” said Sharon Vuong, NBC’s executive vice president of unscripted programming. “This series is a natural extension of NBC’s tradition in the game show space, and we’re thrilled to have the wonderful Savannah at the helm, along with our partners at UTAS, Electric Hot Dog, and The New York Times, to bring a smart, fun, and distinctly NBC perspective to this global phenomenon.”
Toby Gorman, president of Universal Television Alternative Studios, said: “We are so excited, happy and giddy to bring ‘Wordle’ to television, five letter words and all.” “The New York Times’ wordplay has been played billions of times, and our goal is to create a show that’s just as addictive. Savannah brings the perfect blend of warmth and wit to do just that.”
“A few years ago, The New York Times began developing the Wordle game show, and partnering with Jimmy Fallon to develop the game for NBC was perfect,” said Roper, executive editorial director for film and television at the Times. “We wanted to honor the unique thrill of Wordle, the way people play with each other and share scores, but we also wanted to create something new for television. Like Jimmy, Savannah is an avid Wordle player and has even answered on TV in Times Square. No one understands what contestants go through like she does.”
The Wordle news came hours before NBCUniversal’s presentation to advertisers at Upfront in New York City.
