The live-action adaptation of Dungeon Crawler Carl is moving closer to reality, with the upcoming TV series expected to begin filming in 2027. The series, based on Matt Dinniman’s bestselling LitRPG book series, is in the early stages of development at Universal Television, with production preparations already underway. Speaking during a New York Comic Con panel Saturday, Universal Global Television scripted series chief Kelsey Balance said the team is hiring key production staff and working on scripts ahead of filming.
Balance also said fans should hear more about the adaptation “very soon, within the next few weeks,” as the team finalizes additional details. However, there’s no word yet on when the show might premiere. Dungeon Crawler Carl follows Coast Guard veteran Carl and Princess Donut, his ex-girlfriend’s prize-winning cat, after an alien invasion wipes out most of humanity.
The survivors are forced to navigate a deadly dungeon filled with monsters, aliens, and other threats as contestants on a sadistic intergalactic reality show. As the series’ official logline puts it, the apocalypse will be televised, and survival is only part of the challenge. The series will be led by Chris Yost and Eric Heisserer, who will executive produce alongside Seth MacFarlane, Erica Huggins, and Rachel Hargreaves-Heald of MacFarlane’s production company, Fuzzy Door.
Dinniman will serve as a co-executive producer. The books have developed a dedicated following for their blend of fantasy, science fiction, dark humor, and video game-inspired mechanics. The TV adaptation will bring that combination to a new audience, though it remains unclear how closely the show will follow the books.
Casting details remain scarce. Dinniman confirmed during the NYCC panel that Jeff Hays, who narrates the Dungeon Crawler Carl audiobooks, will voice Princess Donut in the series. Carl himself has not been cast, and no premiere date has been announced.
Dinniman said he wants an actor who can capture both Carl’s goofy side and his more intimidating moments, according to Variety.
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