Six Guesses on the Big Screen: NBC Is Turning 'Wordle' Into a Primetime Game Show
Hosted by Savannah Guthrie and produced by Jimmy Fallon, the viral New York Times word puzzle is making the leap to television in 2027.
Summary
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NBC has officially greenlit a new primetime game show based on Wordle, the massively popular New York Times daily word puzzle
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The series will be hosted by Today show co-anchor and self-proclaimed Wordle fanatic Savannah Guthrie
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Co-produced by Jimmy Fallon’s Electric Hot Dog, Universal Television Alternative Studio, and The New York Times, the show will feature a fast-paced, team-based format where squads compete for a cash prize
The daily ritual of guessing a five-letter word is officially getting the Hollywood treatment. NBC has announced that Wordle, the viral puzzle sensation that took the internet by storm in 2021 before being acquired by The New York Times, is being adapted into a primetime game show. Aiming to capture the communal spirit of the online game, the upcoming series will bring the familiar green and yellow squares to the television screen in a fast-paced new format slated to debut in 2027.
To bring the digital puzzle to life, NBC has assembled a heavyweight creative team. The project is being produced by Jimmy Fallon‘s Electric Hot Dog banner (the team behind Password and That’s My Jam) alongside Universal Television Alternative Studio and The New York Times. Stepping into the hosting role is Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. According to NYT executive Caitlin Roper, Guthrie was the perfect fit because she “absolutely loves Wordle and she is also really good at it.”
While the core mechanics of the game will remain focused on deciphering five-letter words within six attempts, the television adaptation is introducing a new competitive, team-based element. Rather than playing solo, the most obsessed and competitive Wordle players will team up in squads and go head-to-head in a specialized arena.
“It builds on the way the puzzle community engages with Wordle every day — solving together, sharing wins, debating strategies, and cheering one another on,” The New York Times shared in a recent press release. By transforming the solitary morning routine into a high-stakes group competition, the show aims to offer incredible cash prizes while keeping the core puzzle-solving experience intact.
From a simple web browser game created by Josh Wardle to a Hasbro board game, a VR app, and now a primetime television spectacle, the evolution of Wordle continues to be unprecedented. As production gears up later this year, puzzle fans will have to wait until 2027 to see if their daily streaks translate to the big stage.
