Grammy-winning artist and actor Donald Glover is set to write, direct, and star in a live-action series based on Krafton's popular battle royale game, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG). His brother, Stephen Glover, will also be involved as a co-writer and executive producer.
Krafton, the South Korean gaming conglomerate that owns the PUBG franchise, aims to expand the intellectual property into original entertainment content. LV3H, Krafton's entertainment division, is co-developing and producing the series, with Michael Schaefer of NEON TV and Fam Udeorji of Gilga also serving as executive producers.
While PUBG is primarily known as a multiplayer survival game, it possesses a substantial narrative that can be explored in a series format. The game's lore centers on billionaire Sergei Kalimnik, the sole survivor of a 1965 attack on the fictional island of Erangel. Traumatized by the event, Kalimnik later acquires the island and creates the Battlegrounds, a deadly competition where 100 individuals are forced to fight until only one remains. This premise has been compared to Netflix's "Squid Game," with elements of shadowy elites observing the brutal contests.
The lore also ties into an ancient tradition known as 'Magna Venari: The Great Hunt,' originating in the 15th century, which sought to understand the nature of survival. This deep narrative foundation offers considerable material for Glover's adaptation.
Glover's involvement marks a significant move into video game adaptations, following news of Michael B. Jordan's work on a "Battlefield" movie. Jordan, alongside Christopher McQuarrie, is reportedly developing the "Battlefield" adaptation, with Sony emerging as a potential studio partner.