Matt Dinniman, the author behind the "Dungeon Crawler Carl" book series, is bringing his popular LitRPG novels to the screen with a television adaptation in development at Peacock. The series has achieved significant success, selling more than 13.5 million copies worldwide.
Seth MacFarlane, through his Fuzzy Door banner, is set to executive produce the adaptation, with Christopher Yost, known for "Thor: Ragnarok," attached to write the show. Dinniman himself will also serve as an executive producer. Jeff Hays, the narrator and producer of the "Dungeon Crawler Carl" audiobooks, has been cast as the voice of Prince Donut in the series.
Dinniman received multiple offers for adaptation rights but ultimately chose NBCUniversal. He described the appeal of the series, in part, as "It’s got a cat in it."
A Journey to Bestseller Status
Dinniman's path to bestseller status was a long one, spanning decades of writing. His first book was published by a small press in 2003, a time when self-publishing carried a stigma. He began self-publishing in 2017 with "Dominion of Blades," a work within the then-lesser-known Literary Role-Playing Game (LitRPG) genre. For several years, Dinniman supported himself by selling artwork at conventions. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 prompted him to focus on his writing, leading to the creation of "Dungeon Crawler Carl."
The "Dungeon Crawler Carl" series follows the adventures of Carl, a former Coast Guard member, and Princess Donut, a cat, as they navigate an intergalactic reality show.
While his Patreon initially garnered modest support, the series' popularity surged with the release of its audiobook. By 2023, hundreds of thousands of copies had been sold. Penguin Random House became involved in August 2024, leading to broader distribution and increased visibility. The series further gained momentum through platforms like TikTok, contributing to its exponential growth.