NBC says production will begin this year, while her mother’s disappearance remains under investigation in Arizona.
NEW YORK — Savannah Guthrie will host a new NBC game show based on Wordle, the network said Monday, giving the “Today” co-anchor a prime-time role as the search for her missing mother in Arizona passed the 100-day mark.
The job places Guthrie at the center of a new series from NBC, The New York Times and Jimmy Fallon’s production company, Electric Hot Dog. It also arrives during a deeply personal crisis for Guthrie’s family. Her mother, 84-year-old Nancy Long Guthrie, has been missing from the Tucson area since early February, and local and federal investigators continue to treat the case as active.
Guthrie announced the Wordle project on “Today” with Fallon, who is an executive producer on the series. NBC said the show will turn the five-letter puzzle into a team competition for a cash prize, with players facing off in a larger game-show arena. Fallon said Guthrie brings “intelligence, charm, and warmth” to the project. Guthrie, a longtime Wordle player, said the show had been in development for some time and that the production team paused work after her mother disappeared. NBC said casting is open, production is expected to begin later this year and the series is slated to premiere in 2027.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home in the Catalina Foothills area of Tucson on the evening of Jan. 31. Arizona public safety records show a SAFE Alert was requested after family members were told she had not appeared for church on Feb. 1. Relatives went to the home and found her gone, while her wallet, cellphone, vehicle and other personal belongings were still there. The alert described Guthrie as a vulnerable adult with limited mobility who has a pacemaker and needs daily medication for a heart condition. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI’s Phoenix Field Office opened the investigation, and authorities later released images and video tied to a masked person near her home.
Investigators have released only parts of the timeline. A local timeline cited by authorities said Guthrie was dropped off at home at about 9:48 p.m. Jan. 31 after spending the evening with family. A doorbell camera disconnected at about 1:47 a.m. Feb. 1, and a pacemaker app showed a disconnection at about 2:28 a.m. Emergency calls were made shortly after noon, and deputies arrived minutes later. The FBI has said Guthrie was last seen at her residence in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood and was considered missing under suspicious circumstances. No suspect, motive or arrest has been announced, and officials have not said whether they believe she is alive.
Evidence in the case has included doorbell footage, digital records and DNA testing. CBS News reported that a DNA sample from the home was being evaluated at the FBI laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, after earlier testing by a private laboratory. Investigators have not publicly confirmed what the sample is or exactly where it was found. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said he could not discuss evidence because the case remains open and because any future defendant would have a right to a fair trial. A sheriff’s department statement said scientific evidence processing and digital media analysis were still underway as the investigation reached 100 days.
The Wordle series adds a public career milestone to a period in which Guthrie has moved between national television work and family grief. She stepped away from “Today” after her mother vanished and later returned to the anchor desk in April. On Mother’s Day, she posted a tribute saying, “We will never stop looking for you.” The family has offered a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery, adding to law enforcement reward offers. NBC colleagues have shown support as Guthrie has resumed work, while Fallon framed the new hosting role as a natural fit for a journalist known for calm, quick on-air judgment.
The television project also marks another expansion of Wordle beyond its original online form. The puzzle launched in 2021 and was acquired by The New York Times in 2022. NBC said the show will keep the shared-play spirit of the game, with squads solving puzzles for speed, accuracy and prize money. Universal Television Alternative Studio will produce the series with Electric Hot Dog and The New York Times. Jimmy Fallon and Jim Juvonen will serve as executive producers for Electric Hot Dog, while Caitlin Roper and Jonathan Knight will executive produce for The New York Times. Wes Kauble will executive produce and serve as showrunner.
In Tucson, the case has brought a steady stream of attention to Nancy Guthrie’s neighborhood and to the sheriff’s department. The Catalina Foothills Association said supporters have left flowers and memorial items near her home, but the group raised concerns about upkeep, animals, warm weather and traffic from visitors. Association President Will Pew said Nancy Guthrie had lived in the neighborhood for more than 50 years and that her family was rooted in the community. He said neighbors were “closer than ever” while waiting for answers. The public focus has also brought scrutiny of Nanos, who earlier acknowledged missteps in how the case scene was handled.
As of Tuesday, NBC’s Wordle show was moving toward production later in 2026, while the search for Nancy Guthrie remained unresolved. Authorities had not announced charges, a recovery or a suspect, and investigators said evidence review and tip work were continuing.
Author note: Last updated Tuesday, May 12, 2026.