Donald Glover is heading into PUBG, and he’s taking on considerably more work than surviving a match. Netflix is developing a live-action series based on the battle royale game, with the Atlanta creator attached to star and direct.
Krafton confirmed the project, which Glover will co-write with his brother Stephen. Both will also executive produce, putting the brothers to work on the adaptation’s scripts while Donald takes a role in front of the camera.
Why is Glover the draw here
Glover comes to the project with Emmy and Golden Globe wins for Atlanta, alongside his acting work in Community. He also co-created and starred in Mr. & Mrs. Smith, giving him experience adapting an existing property for television.
PUBG supplies a straightforward survival premise. Players have an obvious reason to care about winning a match, but television viewers need a reason to care about the people caught in it. Giving those characters enough personality to make their deaths sting will be a job for the brothers’ scripts.
How closely is Krafton involved
Krafton’s entertainment subsidiary LV3H will help develop and produce the series. Its Taeseok Jang and Sujin Lee are attached as executive producers, so the publisher has representatives on the production team.
Michael Schaefer of NEON TV and Fam Udeorji of Gilga will also executive produce alongside the Glover brothers. The announced team brings together the game’s owner and the people responsible for adapting it.
When can you watch the series
There’s no release date yet. Krafton plans to announce further details and a release schedule later. The PUBG Netflix series is still in development, with no production timetable announced.
Glover’s character hasn’t been revealed, and no other cast members have been named. The show’s tone is also under wraps, so don’t take the brothers’ involvement as confirmation of a dark comedy. Story and casting details should give fans a clearer idea of what they’re making before there’s a premiere date to circle.