Netflix Announces PUBG Live Action Series by Donald Glover

Netflix is developing a live-action series adaptation of the battle royale video game “PUBG,” with Emmy winner Donald Glover attached to star, direct, write, and executive produce. The project brings the multi-hyphenate creator to the streaming platform for the first time following lengthy negotiations.

Donald and Stephen Glover Lead the Creative Team

Donald Glover will team up with his brother and frequent collaborator Stephen Glover, who is on board to co-write and executive produce the series. The pair previously worked together on the FX comedy series “Atlanta,” where Donald created and starred while Stephen served as a writer and executive producer throughout the four-season run. They also collaborated on the Amazon series “Swarm” and the musical film “Guava Island,” with Stephen writing for Donald’s Amazon series “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” Additional executive producers include Michael Schaefer for Neon TV, Fam Udeorji for Gilga, and Taeseok Jang and Sujin Lee for LV3H, the entertainment division of game publisher Krafton.

From Last-Man-Standing Gameplay to Netflix Adaptation

Originally published by South Korean publisher Krafton in 2017, “PUBG” stands for “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds,” named after developer Brendan “PlayerUnknown” Greene. The game does not feature a traditional pre-written plot. Instead, it drops large numbers of players onto a map filled with weapons, vehicles, and items in a last-man-standing deathmatch. The game took inspiration from Kenji Fukasaku’s 2000 film “Battle Royale,” which was based on Koushun Takami’s novel. Exact plot details for the upcoming Netflix series are currently kept under wraps.

PUBG Sets Multiple Records over a Decade

Nearly 10 years after its initial release, “PUBG” remains one of the most enduring gaming franchises globally. The title set seven Guinness World Records, including the fastest time for a Steam Early Access game to sell one million units, the fastest time to gross $100 million in revenue, and the first video game to reach two million concurrent players on Steam. Krafton first announced plans to expand the franchise into a movie and television series in 2020. An animated series was previously in development at Netflix with executive producer Adi Shankar.

Netflix Develops Multiple Video Game Adaptations

Should the project move forward to a full series order, “PUBG” will join a broad slate of video game adaptations at Netflix. The streamer is currently developing a live-action “Assassin’s Creed” series, a live-action “Gears of War” film, and animated series based on “Minecraft,” “Magic: The Gathering,” and “Clash of Clans,” alongside existing shows like “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners” and “Splinter Cell: Deathwatch.” Donald Glover continues to work under a first-look deal at Amazon MGM Studios after leaving his longtime home at FX in 2021, and he is expected to reprise his on-screen role in the second season of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” which began production in the spring.

Frequently Asked Questions About the PUBG Series

Who is writing and directing the PUBG series at Netflix?

Donald Glover is set to direct, star in, co-write, and executive produce the series alongside his brother Stephen Glover, who is also writing and executive producing.

What company publishes the original PUBG game?

The game is published by Krafton, a South Korean video game publisher, through its entertainment division LV3H.

Are plot details available for the live-action adaptation?

Exact plot details for the Netflix series are currently under wraps by the production team.

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