The live-action adaptation of Dungeon Crawler Carl will begin shooting in 2027, according to Variety. Author Matt Dinniman and Universal Television executives announced the Dungeon Crawler Carl 2027 production start during a panel at New York Comic Con.
The series is based on Dinniman’s best-selling LitRPG novel series, which follows a Coast Guard veteran named Carl after an alien invasion wipes out most of humanity. Survivors are forced into a sadistic intergalactic game show, and Carl is paired with his ex-girlfriend’s award-winning show cat, Princess Donut the Queen Anne Chonk.
What Universal Has Confirmed About The Dungeon Crawler Carl 2027 Production
Chris Yost and Eric Heisserer are leading the adaptation as showrunners and executive producers. Seth MacFarlane, Erica Huggins and Rachel Hargreaves-Heald are also executive producing through MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door banner, with Dinniman serving as co-executive producer. Universal Global Television is producing the series, which will air on Peacock.
Jeff Hays, who narrates the Dungeon Crawler Carl audiobooks, has been cast to voice Princess Donut in the television series. According to Variety, no other casting decisions have been made, and Carl himself has not been cast.
What’s Still Unannounced
Variety reported that no release date has been set for the series. The outlet also noted that details including a specific 2027 start date, episode count and season structure have not been disclosed.
Kelsey Balance, Universal Global Television’s scripted series chief, spoke at the New York Comic Con panel about where the production currently stands. “We are starting to see drafts and outlines and we’ve gotten the whole series pitch, which is really exciting, but it’s continued to evolve. While that’s happening, we are building the ship, or building the plane, as we fly,” Balance said.
“So that’s happening and that drives everything. At the same time, we’re into soft prep. So we’re hiring HODs.
We’re finding great line producers, production designers, directors, casting, all of it is kind of happening right now, which is fun.”
The Search For Carl
Casting the title role remains a priority for the creative team. Balance described what she wants from whoever plays Carl. “I want Carl to be played by someone who embodies the role and someone who who can be both goofy and give off that really, really scary vibe. When Carl’s upset, he’s a very scary person,” she said.
What’s Next
With production in soft prep, Universal Global Television is currently hiring heads of departments, line producers, production designers and directors ahead of the 2027 shoot. No casting beyond Hays, no release date and no episode details have been confirmed, and further announcements are expected as the production moves closer to filming.
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