A new project from Seth MacFarlane is underway at Peacock. According to a report from Variety, the streamer is developing a live-action TV series titled Dungeon Crawler Carl. The show is based on the LitRPG book series of the same name by author Matt Dinniman. Chris Yost is attached as the writer and executive producer, while MacFarlane is also serving as an executive producer through his Fuzzy Door banner. Additional executive producers include Dinniman, Eric Huggins, and Rachel Hargreaves-Heald.
The series’ official logline reveals a gripping premise: “An alien invasion has wiped out most of humanity, and the survivors are forced to fight for their lives on a sadistic intergalactic game show.” The show adds a humorous twist, describing a scenario where the protagonist, Carl—a Coast Guard veteran—finds himself battling monsters, aliens, an insane AI, and other survivors, all while partnered with his ex-girlfriend’s pampered, talking cat, Princess Donut the Queen Anne Chonk. “Welcome to Dungeon Crawler World: Earth, where the apocalypse will be televised… and survival is optional, but entertainment is not,” the logline states.
Originally acquired by Universal International Studios in early 2025, the series now has a home at Peacock. Dinniman reassured fans that, despite being live-action, the production will benefit from MacFarlane’s expertise. “We’re not going to do it if it’s going to look like absolute sh-t,” Dinniman said. “They will do CGI testing on Princess Donut and other effects. It all depends on how it looks, but with Fuzzy Door, if you’ve seen ‘Ted’ or ‘The Orville,’ you know they know what they’re doing with this kind of stuff.”
The Dungeon Crawler Carl book series began in 2020 and has released seven installments so far. The eighth book is scheduled for release on May 12, 2026.
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