Netflix has announced the development of a live-action series based on PUBG: Battlegrounds, one of the most influential video games in the battle royale genre. Donald Glover will lead the project as writer, director, executive producer, and star, making this the most high-profile signing to date for the platform's catalog of video game adaptations.
The series is based on the phenomenon created by KRAFTON, which launched in 2017 under the name PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and is widely recognized for popularizing the formula of one hundred players dropping onto an island to survive, a format later exploited by titles such as Fortnite, Apex Legends, or Call of Duty: Warzone. Although the game is no longer at the peak of popularity it experienced between 2018 and 2019, it still maintains a very large player base.
According to KRAFTON, the franchise holds seven Guinness World Records, and the company is now pushing its leap into film and television through its entertainment division, LV3H, which is involved in both the development and production of the Netflix series.
Who is behind the PUBG series
The project is, to a large extent, a family affair for the Glovers. Donald Glover, known for Atlanta, Community, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith, takes on four distinct roles: writer, director, executive producer, and lead actor. He is joined by his brother Stephen Glover, a frequent collaborator who co-wrote and co-created Atlanta, and who will also handle writing and executive production duties on this project.
The list of executive producers is completed by:
- Michael Schaefer, for NEON TV
- Fam Udeorji, for Gilga
- Taeseok Jang and Sujin Lee, for LV3H
For Netflix subscribers, Donald Glover is a familiar face, although he had never before starred in an original project for the platform. Community was a staple of the Netflix catalog for years until its six seasons left the service in April 2024, shortly before the highly anticipated release of the spin-off film. Atlanta, for its part, has never been available on Netflix in the United States.
What is known about the plot and cast
At the moment, no details about the plot have been revealed, nor has any additional cast been confirmed beyond the participation of Donald Glover. There is also no production schedule. Given that the project is just entering the development phase and the scripts have yet to be written, it would not be realistic to expect its arrival on Netflix before 2028 at the earliest.
A previous attempt that was left in limbo
This is not the first time PUBG and Netflix have been mentioned together. In July 2021, KRAFTON announced an animated PUBG project with producer Adi Shankar, known for his work on Castlevania and Devil May Cry, which at the time was widely linked to Netflix. That project went silent in the following years, similar to what happened with the much-discussed Assassin's Creed animated series. Today's announcement makes no mention of that previous initiative, so everything points to this live-action series now being the chosen path for the franchise on the platform.
How PUBG fits into Netflix’s catalog of video game adaptations
Today's announcement also served as an update on the status of other video game projects Netflix has underway. The live-action Assassin's Creed series is the most advanced, having finished filming this month, with a release in late 2027 appearing likely. The Gears of War film, directed by David Leitch, is still in the script phase.
In addition, Netflix has animated series in production based on Minecraft, Magic: The Gathering, and Clash of Clans, as well as a competition format inspired by Overcooked. Splinter Cell: Deathwatch is already facing its second season, while Devil May Cry is heading toward its third and final installment. Added to this is a live-action Crazy Taxi film, which leads the batch of titles resulting from the recent deal with Sega.
Netflix’s track record with video game adaptations
Netflix already has an extensive catalog of available adaptations. In animation, highlights include Castlevania and its sequel Castlevania: Nocturne, the Emmy-winning Arcane, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners along with its standalone sequel season released just this month, DOTA: Dragon's Blood, Tekken: Bloodline, Sonic Prime, and Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, in addition to the more recent Devil May Cry and Splinter Cell: Deathwatch.
The live-action arena, however, has proven more complicated for the platform: the 2022 Resident Evil series was canceled after just one season. This makes PUBG and Assassin's Creed Netflix's most ambitious bets to date within the live-action video game genre.
Frequently asked questions about the PUBG series on Netflix
When will the PUBG series premiere on Netflix?
There is no confirmed release date. The project has just entered development and the scripts are still to be written, so it is not expected to arrive on Netflix before 2028 at the earliest.
Who will star in the PUBG: Battlegrounds series?
At the moment, only the participation of Donald Glover has been confirmed, who, in addition to starring in the series, will be in charge of writing, directing, and producing it. No other cast names have been revealed.
What is the PUBG series based on?
The series adapts PUBG: Battlegrounds, the KRAFTON video game released in 2017 as PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, considered a pioneer of the battle royale genre with its format of one hundred players competing on an island.
Who else is involved in the production of the series?
Stephen Glover, Donald Glover's brother and frequent collaborator on projects like Atlanta, will write and executive produce the series. Also listed as executive producers are Michael Schaefer, Fam Udeorji, Taeseok Jang, and Sujin Lee, the latter two representing LV3H, KRAFTON's entertainment division.
Is this the first time PUBG has been adapted for Netflix?
No. In 2021, an animated PUBG project was announced with producer Adi Shankar that was linked to Netflix, but it has had no progress since then. The current announcement does not mention that previous initiative.
