‘Dungeon Crawler Carl’ Series Plans to Begin Filming in 2027

Dungeon Crawler Carl is moving from development toward production. The live-action Peacock adaptation of Matt Dinniman’s LitRPG book series is expected to begin filming in 2027, according to details shared by the author and Universal television executives at New York Comic Con.

The update gives fans the project’s clearest timetable yet, but it is not a release-date announcement. The production team is still developing scripts, assembling department heads and working through casting decisions.

What the ‘Dungeon Crawler Carl’ team confirmed

Kelsey Balance, who leads scripted series for Universal Global Television, said the team has begun soft preparation while drafts and outlines continue to evolve. Real preparation is planned for the new year, with filming to follow later in 2027. The goal is to complete every script before cameras roll.

No actor has been selected to play Carl. Dinniman said the role requires someone who can handle the character’s goofy side while still becoming intimidating when the story turns darker. More production announcements are expected within the next several weeks, although neither Peacock nor Universal has set a premiere date.

One voice is already locked in. Jeff Hays, narrator of the audiobooks, will play Princess Donut, the extravagant talking cat who becomes Carl’s unlikely partner. Peacock says the audio editions have logged more than 140 million listening hours on Audible, giving Hays an established connection with the fan base.

How the books are being adapted for Peacock

The story begins after an alien invasion devastates Earth and forces the survivors into a lethal intergalactic game show. Coast Guard veteran Carl enters the competition alongside Princess Donut, fighting monsters, hostile survivors and a dangerous artificial intelligence while unseen viewers treat the apocalypse as entertainment.

Chris Yost and Eric Heisserer are leading the series and serving as executive producers. Seth MacFarlane, Erica Huggins and Rachel Hargreaves-Heald are also executive producing through Fuzzy Door, with Dinniman attached as a co-executive producer. Universal Global Television is producing the adaptation.

The books’ blend of video-game mechanics, dark comedy and escalating survival challenges makes the transition ambitious. The new timetable shows that the series is advancing, but casting, a trailer and a launch window are still ahead.