Two-time Emmy and Golden-Globe winner Donald Glover (Atlanta, Mr. & Mrs. Smith) is writing, directing, and starring in his next project for a Netflix live-action adaptation. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the live-action adaptation will be the video game PUBG, a battle Royale game placed on an island with 100 different players fighting to be the only one standing.
The free-to-play PUBG came from a South Korean global game company called Krafton, with a network of 19 creative studios. It was released in 2017, exploring the enhance possibilities of Krafton’s player experience. The locations of the game are mostly war zone backgrounds. It was originally called PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, developed by Brendan “PlayerUnknown” Greene (The Rubber-Keyed Wonder). The company has help from LV3H, Krafton’s entertainment entity, to expand the game franchise into more entertainment development variety. The series will join other Netflix video game adaptations, including an upcoming Assassin’s Creed live-action series and a Gears of War live-action feature film. Other game adaptations for Netflix are animated series, including Minecraft, Magic: The Gathering, and Clash of Clans. Returning series include Devil May Cry (2025) Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022-), and a Splinter Cell: Deathwatch(2025).
Details on the story are not quite out yet, but Glover and his brother, Stephen Glover (Swarm, Mr. & Mrs. Smith), will collaborate as writers and executive producers to create the adaptation. Also joining in the production are Micheal Schaefer (The Martian, The Creator) for Neon TV, Fam Udeorji (Atlanta, Creed II) for Gilga, and Taeseok Jang (PUBG) Sujin Lee (The Night is Short, Walk on Girl) for LV3H.
This video game adaptation is Glover’s first work on Netflix. He has recently made an overall deal at Amazon MGM. He had co-created and starred in Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2023) on Amazon, planning to reprise his roles for the second season. He also co-created and executive produced the series Swarm (2023). He has also had a music career as a rapper and musician in his own songs, including “Sober,” “Redbone,” and “Lithonia.”
Photo credit: Sharon Alagna