Please be advised: the collapse timer has been extended, and the only thing dying on schedule is my patience.
Universal Television has confirmed that filming on the live-action *Dungeon Crawler Carl* series is now slated to begin in 2027. According to Variety, Kelsey Balance, the head of scripted series for Universal Global Television, told a New York Comic Con panel on Saturday that the production is hiring key staff and finalizing scripts. "We're on track for that and then we'll start shooting it, which is exciting," Balance said. This follows a weekend where fans were already chasing down $2,000 comics and pawing through physical loot at the same convention, as covered in NYCC Attendees Chase $2,000 Carl Comics in Free Giveaway and Dungeon Crawler Carl Loot Goes Physical at NYCC. The merchandise is already here; the broadcast is still two years out. I have seen slower collapses, but not by much.
For the crawlers in the audience, here is the practical translation: you have roughly 730 days to reread the source material before the adaptation attempts to explain it to the uninitiated. The good news is that Jeff Hays, the audiobook narrator, will voice Princess Donut, a decision so correct it almost restores my faith in this production. The bad news is that Carl himself remains uncast, and Dinniman has stated he wants an actor who can capture both the goofy side and the intimidating moments. That is a casting call for a man who enters a dungeon in his underwear and makes it work. Good luck, agents.
The show will be led by Chris Yost and Eric Heisserer, with Seth MacFarlane's Fuzzy Door producing and Dinniman serving as co-executive producer. Balance promised more news "very soon, within the next few weeks," which is the kind of vague timeline I appreciate, because it gives me room to threaten a floor collapse if they miss it. No premiere date has been announced, and no one has said how closely the show will follow the books. That last point is the one to watch. The books are a blend of dark humor, video game mechanics, and a talking cat who is more competent than most bureaucrats. If the adaptation sands off the edges, it will be a loot box with nothing inside but disappointment.
The specific detail to track is the casting announcement for Carl. That name will tell you everything about whether this is a faithful descent or a sanitized elevator ride. Dinniman is involved, Hays is locked in, and the scripts are being written. The timer is set for 2027. Until then, I suggest you enjoy the A Loot Box Preview: Dungeon Crawler Carl Toys at NYCC, because it may be the closest you get to the real thing for a very long time. Congratulations, I suppose. You have been warned.