Netflix is deepening its game-to-screen pipeline with one of the most versatile creators in television. Donald Glover is developing a series adaptation of PUBG, the battle royale title from South Korean game company Krafton, and is attached to star, write, direct and executive produce.
His brother and frequent collaborator Stephen Glover will also write and executive produce. The streamer is keeping story details under wraps for now.
A franchise Krafton wants to grow
PUBG drops up to 100 players onto an island where they fight until one remains. Originally titled PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds after developer Brendan “PlayerUnknown” Greene, the game gives Netflix a property with clear stakes and a simple survival engine — useful for episodic storytelling.
For Krafton, the series is part of a larger play. Its entertainment arm, LV3H, is looking to expand the franchise beyond games, and a Netflix series would put the intellectual property in front of a global streaming audience.
A crowded game-adaptation slate
Should it go to series, PUBG would join a Netflix roster that already includes an upcoming Assassin’s Creed series, a Gears of War feature film, and animated shows based on Devil May Cry, Minecraft and Splinter Cell: Deathwatch.
The pattern matters for buyers and sellers: Netflix is not just licensing well-known games; it is pairing them with strong creative voices who can move beyond fan service. For media planners, these adaptations lower awareness hurdles but also raise the floor on execution quality.
- Creator muscle: Glover would star, write, direct and executive produce.
- IP engine: PUBG is a known battle royale franchise from Krafton.
- Franchise ambition: LV3H wants to extend the property beyond games.
- Slate fit: The project joins multiple game adaptations already in the Netflix pipeline.
What this signals about talent deals
This is Glover’s first project at Netflix. He previously had an overall deal at Amazon MGM and currently holds a first-look deal there; under that setup he co-created Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Swarm. He remains an executive producer on Mr. & Mrs. Smith and is expected to return on screen for its second season, which began production in the spring.
The takeaway for entertainment executives is structural: top creators can now move between streamers even when a first-look deal elsewhere is still in place. The platform that moves quickly with a strong IP package can win the next project without waiting for an overall deal to expire.
The producing team includes Michael Schaefer for Neon TV, Fam Udeorji for Gilga, and Taeseok Jang and Sujin Lee for LV3H.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
