Official Dungeon Crawler Carl Casting Is What Fans Have Been Waiting For

Published Oct 3, 2026, 3:45 PM EDT El is a Junior TV Features Editor for ScreenRant, with previous experience as The Mary Sue's UK and Weekend Editor. She holds a Bachelor's in International Media and Entertainment Management, as well as an MA and Ph.D. in Creative Writing. There is little she loves more than discussing her favorite TV shows with fellow fans. One day, she hopes to publish an original fantasy novel. The first official casting for Dungeon Crawler Carl's streaming adaptation is exactly what fans have been hoping for, and it's a good sign of what's to come. Matt Dinniman's creatively bonkers fantasy LitRPG book series is a testament to the power of self-publishing and reader loyalty. Since the first book's original serialized publication in 2020, the titular Carl and his ex-girlfriend's talking show cat, Princess Donut, have taken the world by storm as they grind through increasingly terrifying dungeon floors, created by the masterminds behind the intergalactic reality game show "Dungeon Crawler World: Earth." Since the books' original debut, Penguin Random House has picked up the publishing rights for Dinniman's soon-to-be 10-book series (it has now sold over 14 million copies across all formats worldwide), and NBC's Peacock is moving forward with a live-action adaptation, executive produced by The Orville creator Seth MacFarlane and Dinniman himself. Chris Yost, whose script credits include Thor: Ragnarok, Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender, and Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord, will serve as showrunner and writer. While Dinniman's story is a fantastic example of LitRPG and the magical bond between a man and his missile-wielding, tiara-wearing cat, the author has credited the audiobooks for growing Dungeon Crawler Carl's immense fandom. In an interview with Audible last year, Dinniman revealed that "one to one, [he sells] more audiobooks than [he sells] physical and e-books." While audiobooks are a growing business, the LitRPG genre is especially well-suited to dramatic readings, and Dungeon Crawler Carl boasts one of the business' best narrators: Soundbooth Theater's Jeff Hays. Luckily, Hays, who narrates the books entirely on his own, will have a major role in Peacock's live-action series. Dungeon Crawler Carl's Princess Donut Casting Is A Clear Sign Peacock's Live-Action Series Will Be Faithful To The Franchise Image via Amazon At this year's San Diego Comic-Con, it was confirmed that Jeff Hays will voice the show's version of Princess Donut, the Queen Anne Chonk. So far, this is the only official casting, but it's arguably the most important (aside from Carl, at least). The book and show might be named after Carl, but Donut is his partner and equal in every way that matters. Without her, the story doesn't work. Their loving relationship keeps the dungeon's insanity grounded enough to feel real and genuinely dangerous. Dinniman's pretentious, witty dialogue and Hays' high-pitched, faux-British accent are a match made in heaven. No one else could deliver lines like, "He has an erection, Mordecai!" or "Cats don’t drink cocktails, but here we are, Carl. Mama needs a night off," with such memorable gusto. Hays seamlessly switches between Donut's most hilarious insults and one-liners and her vital moments of vulnerability. It's impossible to imagine anyone else in the role. Thankfully, we won't have to. This is a great sign of what's to come. Dungeon Crawler Carl isn't an easy world to adapt for TV, but Hays' involvement means the producers and Peacock are taking this seriously. They understand what's made this book series such a global sensation. In this case, it isn't just about the story — in that same Audible interview, Dinniman even admitted he now writes with the audio version in mind — it's about the performances, too. If the show can find an actor for Carl with a voice as deep as Hays' narration (that massive contrast is part of what makes the books so delightful to listen to), audiobook readers will have a much easier time accepting and immersing themselves in this new version. Don't Expect Peacock's Dungeon Crawler Carl Series To Be A Like-For-Like Adaptation Credit: Dandy House While Hays being cast in the show is certainly worth celebrating, that doesn't mean the series will be a 100% accurate adaptation of the books. There's too much lore, too many characters, too many complex story threads, powers, alien species, and technology for a TV adaptation to cover (some fans have questioned why the story isn't being adapted in animation rather than live-action). How will the show include all the characters' in-game chats? How will it handle impossible floors like the Iron Tangle from The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook? Some of the book's side quests will almost certainly be cut, as will a few of Carl and Donut's fellow crawlers. Boss Battles will be shortened. That's just the nature of book-to-screen adaptation. If the show wants to have any hope of surviving beyond season 1, it will have to remain feasible. Still, with Dinniman involved and Hays on board, the likelihood of the show losing what makes these books special is much smaller. As long as Carl and Donut's relationship remains intact and the show captures that all-important balance of the crawlers' post-apocalyptic nightmare, social commentary, and Dinniman's absurd, hilarious sense of humor, Peacock's Dungeon Crawler Carl adaptation could be genuinely extraordinary. Network Peacock Writers Chris Yost