NBC Announces Prime-Time Wordle Game Show Hosted by Savannah Guthrie, Premiering in 2027

Wordle, the viral word-guessing game originally created as a gift for the creator’s partner, is expanding into television as a prime-time game show. NBC has officially greenlit the series, with Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor of Today and a self-proclaimed Wordle enthusiast, set to host.

The show will be executive produced by Jimmy Fallon and The New York Times, which acquired Wordle in January 2022. Casting for contestants is already underway, with applications open at wordle.castingcrane.com. Prospective players must apply as teams of three and include their Wordle statistics to demonstrate proficiency.

Premiere Date and Format

The Wordle game show is scheduled to premiere in 2027. While the format mirrors the daily online game—challenging players to solve five-letter word puzzles—it will introduce an added element of speed to heighten competition.

Development and Vision

Sharon Vuong, executive vice president of unscripted programming at NBC, emphasized the cultural significance of Wordle in a statement:

“Wordle is one of the most successful and culturally resonant games of the past decade. This series is a natural extension of NBC’s legacy in the game show space, and we’re excited to bring a smart, joyful and distinctly NBC take to this global phenomenon.”

Caitlin Roper, executive editorial director of film and TV at The New York Times, highlighted the show’s development process:

“We wanted to honor the specific thrill of Wordle—the way people play and share their scores with each other—but also make something new for TV.”

Wordle’s Rise to Popularity

Wordle was created by Josh Wardle in 2021 as a private game for him and his partner during the pandemic. After its public release, it quickly went viral, leading The New York Times to acquire it in January 2022 for an undisclosed amount in the “low seven figures.”

The game’s success has significantly boosted subscriptions to The New York Times and its NYT Games platform. To further engage players, the Times introduced access to over 1,000 past puzzles two years ago, ensuring these did not affect streaks or statistics—a feature highly valued by regular players.

While The New York Times does not disclose precise user numbers, Jonathan Knight, general manager of NYT Games, estimates that “tens of millions” of people play Wordle each week. This has fostered a dedicated global community around the game.

Unlike automated puzzle generators, Wordle employs a human curator, a change mandated by The New York Times in November 2022. This curator-player dynamic introduces an element of strategy, as the curator attempts to outsmart players, creating a compelling cycle of challenge and replayability.