What Happened to Wordle Game Show?
NBC has officially greenlit a primetime game show based on The New York Times' popular word puzzle, Wordle. Hosted by Savannah Guthrie and executive produced by Jimmy Fallon, the show will feature teams competing to solve five-letter word puzzles for a cash prize, with production slated to begin in late 2026 and a debut scheduled for 2027.
Quick Answer
The Wordle Game Show is an upcoming primetime game show on NBC, officially announced on May 11, 2026, and set to premiere in 2027. It will be hosted by 'Today' co-host Savannah Guthrie and executive produced by Jimmy Fallon's Electric Hot Dog, in partnership with Universal Television Alternative Studio and The New York Times. The show will challenge teams to solve five-letter word puzzles in a competitive format for a cash prize, with production commencing later in 2026.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Wordle Online Game Publicly Launched
Welsh software engineer Josh Wardle publicly released Wordle, which quickly gained traction and viral popularity.
The New York Times Acquires Wordle
The New York Times Company purchased Wordle for a 'low seven-figure sum,' integrating it into its games portfolio.
WordleBot Launched
The New York Times launched WordleBot, an AI tool providing players with analysis of their daily Wordle performance.
Wordle Integrated into NYT Crossword App
Wordle was added to The New York Times Crossword app, allowing for synced progress across devices.
Hasbro Releases Wordle: The Party Game
A physical board game adaptation, Wordle: The Party Game, was released by Hasbro in collaboration with The New York Times.
Wordle's Continued Impact on NYT Games Noted
The New York Times reported that while Wordle's player count had peaked, it continued to drive engagement with other NYT games.
Wordle Reaches 5.3 Billion Plays
The online Wordle game recorded 5.3 billion plays during the year, highlighting its sustained global popularity.
Reports Emerge of Wordle Game Show Pilot
Media outlets like Deadline and Variety reported that NBC was piloting a Wordle game show, with Jimmy Fallon involved and Savannah Guthrie set to host.
Savannah Guthrie Films Pilot Episode
Savannah Guthrie filmed the pilot episode for the Wordle Game Show in Manchester, England.
Guthrie Informed of Series Pick-Up
Savannah Guthrie learned that NBC had officially picked up the Wordle Game Show for a full series.
Production Delayed Due to Personal Reasons
Planned production for the game show was delayed as Savannah Guthrie took a hiatus following the disappearance of her mother.
NBC Officially Announces Wordle Game Show
NBC, Jimmy Fallon, and Savannah Guthrie officially announced the greenlight of the Wordle Game Show, confirming its 2027 debut and Guthrie as host.
Game Show Production Set to Begin
Production for the Wordle Game Show is scheduled to commence later in the year, ahead of its 2027 premiere.
Wordle Game Show Debuts on NBC
The Wordle Game Show is slated to premiere on NBC, bringing the popular word puzzle to primetime television.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The global phenomenon Wordle, a web-based word game created by Welsh software engineer Josh Wardle, first gained widespread public attention after its public release in October 2021. Its popularity soared, leading The New York Times Company to acquire the game in January 2022 for a reported 'low seven-figure sum'. Following the acquisition, Wordle continued to thrive, being played 4.8 billion times in 2023 and an impressive 5.3 billion times in 2024, demonstrating its enduring appeal.
The idea of adapting Wordle into a television game show had been in development for approximately two and a half years, with The New York Times carefully considering its partners for the project. On May 11, 2026, NBC officially announced it had greenlit a primetime game show based on Wordle. The show is a collaborative effort between Universal Television Alternative Studio, Jimmy Fallon's production company Electric Hot Dog, and The New York Times.
'Today' co-host Savannah Guthrie, an admitted avid Wordle player, was tapped to host the series, with Jimmy Fallon serving as an executive producer. Guthrie had filmed a pilot episode in Manchester, England, in the fall of 2025. While production was initially set to begin in March 2026, it was temporarily delayed due to Guthrie's personal hiatus following the disappearance of her mother. Producers reportedly halted everything to accommodate her, showcasing a rare flexibility in the television industry.
The Wordle Game Show will feature a 'fresh, fast-paced' format where teams of players will go 'head-to-head in the 'Wordle' arena,' solving five-letter word puzzles for a cash prize. This team-based approach aims to replicate the social aspect of the online game, where players often solve puzzles together and share their strategies. Production is scheduled to commence later in 2026, with the highly anticipated debut on NBC set for 2027. The move signifies The New York Times' continued expansion into diversified content, leveraging its popular non-news properties into broader entertainment franchises.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Wordle Game Show made different choices?