Wordle is officially becoming a TV game show, with NBC greenlighting a new primetime series based on the hugely popular New York Times word game. The show will be hosted by Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie and produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio, Jimmy Fallon’s Electric Hot Dog and The New York Times.
The format will see contestants compete to solve five-letter word puzzles for a cash prize, with players teaming up in squads and going head-to-head in what NBC is calling the “Wordle arena.” Casting for the first season is now open, with production set to begin later this year ahead of a planned 2027 premiere.
Honestly, this is random enough that it might actually be genius. Wordle became one of the great online rituals of the 2020s, the sort of daily brain-scratcher that had group chats comparing green squares, yellow squares and quietly humiliating six-guess finishes. Turning that into a glossy TV game show sounds strange for about five seconds, and then you remember how much people love shouting obvious answers at their screens.
The series is expected to film in Manchester, England, where Guthrie previously shot a pilot. Reports describe the programme as a half-hour format, set to air in the US in 2027.
Fallon, who will executive produce, said he was “very honoured” to be working with Guthrie, praising her intelligence, charm and warmth. NBC’s Sharon Vuong described the show as a natural extension of the network’s game show legacy, while Universal Television Alternative Studio president Toby Gorman said the goal was to create something equally addictive for television.
There is also a more personal note behind the production. Guthrie has spoken about Wordle being a point of connection between her and her mother, Nancy Guthrie, who remains missing. Production plans were delayed after her disappearance, with Guthrie thanking NBC, Fallon’s team, The New York Times and Universal for waiting until she was ready to move forward.
Originally created by Josh Wardle in 2021, Wordle was acquired by The New York Times in 2022 and quickly became one of the paper’s most recognisable games. Its appeal has always been simple: one word, six guesses, and everyone trying to outsmart their mum, gran and smugest mate.
For CultureCues, this has “unexpected viral TV moment” written all over it. It is odd, yes, but in the exact way that could make it work. Give people letters, pressure, cash prizes and a studio audience, and suddenly those little green tiles might be ready for primetime.
Wordle is set to premiere on NBC in 2027.
Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.