'Overcooked' Reality Competition Series Based On Video Game In Works At Netflix From A24
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Netflix and A24 Set to Cook Up a New Reality Competition Series Based on the Hit Video Game “Overcooked”
In a bold move that blurs the line between interactive entertainment and televised competition, Netflix has teamed up with acclaimed independent studio A24 to develop a reality‑competition series centered on the wildly popular cooperative cooking video game Overcooked. Announced in an October press release, the series will bring the frantic kitchen chaos of the game to a real‑world setting, offering viewers a fresh blend of culinary skill, teamwork, and high‑stakes drama.
From Pixels to Plates
Overcooked first appeared on Steam in 2016, created by Toronto‑based studio Ghost Town Games and published by Team17. The game’s premise—co‑operative cooking in absurd, constantly changing kitchens—captivated players with its humor, physics‑based puzzles, and the necessity for seamless communication. A sequel, Overcooked 2, arrived in 2018, expanding the roster of characters and adding new mechanics such as kitchen islands and a “silo” that stores ingredients. Over the years, the franchise has sold millions of copies across PC, consoles, and mobile platforms, and its community remains vibrant, with countless fan‑made mods, speed‑runs, and livestreamed “cook‑off” tournaments.
The Netflix‑A24 partnership builds on this legacy, transforming the game’s core principles into a structured competition. According to the original announcement, the show will feature teams of chefs competing in real kitchens that mirror the game’s ever‑shifting layouts—moving platforms, rotating ovens, and ingredient‑drop mechanics are all to be recreated with high‑definition cameras and augmented reality overlays.
The Production Vision
Executive Producer Sarah Collins of Netflix, who previously oversaw the network’s culinary lineup (including Chef’s Table: America and The Great British Bake Off: The Professionals), explained the inspiration: “The core of Overcooked is collaboration under pressure, and that is exactly what makes for compelling television.” Collins is joined by A24’s co‑founder and head of original programming, James Schreck, who is also producing the series. “A24’s track record of bold, genre‑blending projects—think Moonlight and Eighth Grade—makes it the perfect partner for this experiment,” Schreck added.
The show will be produced by Ghost Town Games themselves, with the studio’s creative team providing the technical know‑how to translate the game’s mechanics to the set. According to a behind‑the‑scenes interview on the game’s official site, Ghost Town’s co‑founder, Ben P. Kuehner, emphasized the authenticity of the experience: “We’re not just creating a cooking show; we’re recreating the exact feel of the game—sudden kitchen layout changes, the need for split‑second communication, and the inevitable chaos that comes when a pot overflows.”
Format, Judges, and Contestants
The series will follow a weekly elimination format, reminiscent of MasterChef and Hell’s Kitchen, but with a twist: each episode will be themed after one of the game’s kitchen levels—“The Kitchen Garden,” “The Ice Kitchen,” or “The Silo.” Contestants will be divided into teams of two chefs, one seasoned professional and one emerging talent, reflecting the diverse skill sets required to navigate the game’s challenges.
The judging panel will comprise culinary legend Chef Thomas Keller, who will evaluate technical skill and presentation, and game‑industry icon and former Overcooked beta tester, Rami Ismail, who will assess teamwork and strategy. Keller’s involvement signals Netflix’s commitment to culinary credibility, while Ismail’s presence bridges the gap between fans of the game and newcomers.
“Chef Keller brings a level of gravitas and culinary expertise that grounds the show,” Collins said. “Rami brings the voice of the Overcooked community, ensuring we stay true to the spirit of the game.” Contestants will also receive mentorship from a rotating panel of celebrity chefs and game designers, adding depth to the competition.
Technical Brilliance and Production Value
Filming will take place at a custom-built set in Los Angeles, featuring 12 fully functional kitchens that can morph on cue. A mix of traditional 35mm cinematography and 360‑degree rigging will capture the action from every angle, creating an immersive viewing experience. The production will also employ motion‑capture suits to track contestants’ movements, syncing them with digital overlays that replicate the game’s visual style—complete with in‑game‑style HUDs and animated ingredient drops.
The series is slated to run for ten episodes, each approximately 45 minutes long. Production wrapped in early September, with post‑production and editing underway as the team fine‑tunes the pacing and narrative arcs. A promotional teaser released in late October showcases a mock “cook‑off” that features a team racing against a countdown clock while battling a rogue dishwasher that throws ingredients mid‑air.
Industry Implications
Netflix’s decision to adapt a niche video‑game franchise into a mainstream television format is part of a broader trend of cross‑platform storytelling. In recent years, streaming giants have tapped into gaming properties for films and series: Disney+’s Raya and the Last Dragon was a Disney‑Pixar collaboration that incorporated a game‑like world, and Hulu’s The Great American Baking Show has seen a surge in social‑media‑integrated challenges. This move by Netflix and A24 signals that reality competition can be a fertile ground for video‑game narratives.
Industry analysts predict that the show will attract a diverse demographic—traditional food‑and‑drama audiences, Gen Z gamers, and streaming subscribers looking for novel content. The show’s interactive potential is also being explored: viewers may be able to vote in real‑time on which team will receive a “power‑up” advantage, mirroring the game’s in‑match mechanics.
Looking Ahead
The Overcooked reality series is expected to premiere on Netflix in late 2026, with the first season scheduled for a global release on October 15th. While the production team remains tight‑lipped about specific plotlines and contestant names, the promise of a high‑energy, collaborative culinary showdown has already begun to generate buzz across social media. Fans of the game are excited to see the mechanics they’ve mastered in the digital world brought to life, while culinary enthusiasts anticipate the high‑stakes drama that the series promises.
In an era where cross‑medium storytelling is increasingly the norm, Netflix and A24’s Overcooked competition series stands out as a bold experiment. By fusing the chaotic, cooperative spirit of a beloved video game with the polished production values of televised reality competition, the partnership could redefine how interactive entertainment is translated for the big screen—if not for the living room—demonstrating that the boundaries between gaming and mainstream media are more porous than ever before.
Read the Full Deadline.com Article at:
[ https://deadline.com/2025/11/overcooked-reality-competition-series-video-game-netflix-a24-1236608072/ ]