Wordle to Become Primetime TV Show
The widely popular online word game Wordle is set to be adapted into a primetime television quiz show next year, NBC has officially announced.
The show will be filmed in Manchester, England, and is planned for broadcast in both the United Kingdom and the United States. Savannah Guthrie, the anchor of NBC's morning news program Today, will serve as the host of the new series.
The format of the show is based on the Wordle puzzle game, which has been published daily by The New York Times since 2022. The game challenges players to identify the same five-letter word within six guesses or fewer.
Production and Hosting Details
Jimmy Fallon, the American talk show host whose production company Electric Hot Dog is co-producing the series, expressed his enthusiasm about collaborating with Guthrie.
"I felt very honoured to be working with Savannah Guthrie on this show," Fallon said.
Filming of the Wordle TV show experienced delays following the disappearance of Guthrie's 84-year-old mother, Nancy, in February. Guthrie took an extended leave from her role on Today during this period and returned in April.
Guthrie has previously mentioned that Wordle was a shared interest between her and her mother, who remains missing.
"Savannah has that rare combination of intelligence, charm, and warmth that makes everyone feel instantly welcome. And she obviously knows how to host a show. I am super proud and happy and I think we developed a solid gamer for prime-time," Fallon added.
Show Format and Collaboration
Each episode of the Wordle TV show will have a runtime of approximately 30 minutes. The series aims to replicate the distinctive Wordle typeface and color scheme to maintain the game's recognizable aesthetic.
The collaboration between The New York Times and a major television network follows the publication's expansion into gaming apps, which includes titles such as Crossword, Spelling Bee, and Wordle.
Origins and Gameplay of Wordle
Wordle was originally created by Welsh software engineer Josh Wardle in 2021 and was acquired by The New York Times in 2022. That same year, Wordle was the most Googled word globally.
Wardle recently told The Sunday Times,
"I haven't played since the day I sold it."
Inspired by the 1970s board game Mastermind, Wordle requires players to guess a five-letter word within six attempts. Feedback is provided solely through colored tiles indicating correct and incorrect letters.
The game releases a single puzzle daily, with all players attempting to solve the same word simultaneously.
Casting and Production Timeline
Casting for the inaugural season of the Wordle TV series is currently open, according to NBC. Production is scheduled to commence later this year, with the show expected to premiere in 2027.
