Peacock’s live‑action adaptation of “Dungeon Crawler Carl” is slated to start production next year, according to author Matt Dinniman and Universal Television executives who announced the news on Saturday.
During a New York Comic Con panel hosted by Dinniman, Kelsey Balance, chief of scripted series at Universal Global Television, said the team is reviewing early drafts and outlines and has received the full series pitch, which continues to evolve. She added that while those materials are being developed, the crew is simultaneously laying the groundwork—hiring department heads, securing line producers, production designers, directors, and beginning the casting process—describing the current phase as both busy and enjoyable.
The series, adapted from Matt Dinniman’s best‑selling LitRPG novel, will be executive produced by Chris Yost and Eric Heisserer, together with Seth MacFarlane, Erica Huggins, and Rachel Hargreaves‑Heald under MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door banner. Dinniman will serve as co‑executive producer, and the project is being overseen by Universal Global Television.
The official logline reads: “An alien invasion has eradicated most of humanity, leaving survivors to compete in a sadistic intergalactic game show. To make matters worse, they must do so barefoot alongside a pompous, self‑absorbed, tiara‑wearing talking cat. In Dungeon Crawler World: Earth, the apocalypse will be broadcast, and Coast Guard veteran Carl is paired with his ex‑girlfriend’s award‑winning show cat, Princess Donut the Queen Anne Chonk. Together they battle monsters, aliens, a rogue AI, and even other humans—not for survival, but for the sake of entertainment.”
Balance remarked that the team had hoped to share an update during the Saturday NYCC panel, but the project remains in the midst of development, with many details still pending. She added that further information is expected “very soon,” likely within the next few weeks.
She explained that the team will finalize those key elements soon, which will be exciting to reveal. After that, full preparation will begin in the new year, leading to shooting next year. The goal is to have all scripts completed before production starts—a target they are on track to meet—after which filming will commence. Balance added that the team continually discusses when and how to share updates.
For now, Dinniman and the executives say they cannot announce a premiere date, although Dinniman, who moderated the panel, did press them for details. Joining Balance on the panel were Jordan Moblo, EVP of Creative Acquisitions & IP Management at Universal Studio Group, and Vivian Cannon, EVP of Drama Development at Universal Television. The session, aimed at NYCC press and professional badge holders, provided a behind‑the‑scenes look at how Universal Studio Group identifies promising IP, collaborates with creators, and guides adaptations through development.
Dinniman noted that, aside from confirming that audiobook narrator Jeff Hays will voice Princess Donut, no other casting decisions have been finalized—including the actor who will portray Carl.
He added, “We’ve been discussing this backstage—Carl hasn’t been cast yet, and we don’t have a definitive answer. When asked which actor he envisions in the role, Dinniman said he wants someone who truly embodies Carl, capable of being both goofy and intensely intimidating; when Carl is angry, he becomes quite frightening.”
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