Dungeon Crawler Carl TV Series Enters Soft Prep, Targets 2027 Filming

Key points

• Universal Global Television scripted series chief Kelsey Balance confirmed at New York Comic Con that the series will start shooting in 2027.
• The production is currently in soft prep, with the team hiring head of departments, line producers, and production designers.
• Chris Yost and Eric Heisserer are serving as showrunners and executive producers alongside Seth MacFarlane.
• Jeff Hays, who narrated the audiobook, has been confirmed to voice Princess Donut in the series.
• No release date or lead actor for Carl has been announced, with Balance stating more details are expected within the next few weeks.

Background

Dungeon Crawler Carl is a best-selling LitRPG novel series by Matt Dinniman that blends horror, comedy, and action. The story follows a Coast Guard veteran trapped in an alien game show after an intergalactic invasion. The series has gained a significant following, particularly through its audiobook adaptation narrated by Jeff Hays. This live-action adaptation is being developed by Universal Global Television and will air on Peacock.

How outlets are covering it

Variety reported on the official production timeline and casting updates from a New York Comic Con panel, emphasizing the 'soft prep' phase and the lack of a release date. Nerdist focused on the source material's horror elements, highlighting scenes that demonstrate the series' darker themes, which may inform the tone of the adaptation. The Michigan Daily analyzed the narrative themes of revenge and trauma in the books, suggesting the adaptation will explore the psychological impact of the game show's mechanics on its survivors.

Why it matters

The confirmation of a 2027 filming schedule for a major LitRPG adaptation signals the growing mainstream interest in the genre. The involvement of high-profile producers like Seth MacFarlane and the confirmation of Jeff Hays in a voice role indicate a significant investment in the project's quality and fidelity to the source material.

What to watch

Universal Television expects to announce more casting and production details within the next few weeks. The team aims to have all scripts written before production begins in 2027, with actual prep starting in the new year.