When you think of a hero saving humanity from alien overlords, you probably don’t picture a down-on-his-luck guy and his spoiled Persian cat. And yet, that’s exactly the unlikely duo at the heart of Matt Dinniman’s Dungeon Crawler Carl series, a LitRPG phenomenon.

The books are beloved for their absurd humor, sharp commentary, and heartfelt characterers, and Matt Dinniman has become one of the most recognizable names in the LitRPG space. As often happens, the series was initially self-published directly on the web (via Royal Road), then gained so much popularity that Ace Books acquired it for traditional publishing. Then thanks to Kindle Unlimited, the book gained even more popularity. This is a very common track for new authors, who frequently do much better self-publishing than they ever could going straight to a traditional publisher.

The books series has become a cult favorite, with recommendations spreading far outside traditional LitRPG circles. That popularity eventually caught Hollywood’s eye, and it was acquired for a TV adaptation.

What is the Plot of the Dungeon Crawler Carl TV Series?

Matt Dinniman’s storytelling is a unique blend of gamer logic, survival horror, and black comedy. His books are often described as laugh-out-loud funny, thrillingly violent, and oddly tender all at once.

There are currently seven books in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, but the series adaptation will start with the first book!

Dungeon Crawler Carl opens with the end of the world. Alien corporations have destroyed Earth and transformed it into the ultimate reality TV event: a massive, multi-level dungeon crawl broadcast across the galaxy. Humanity’s survivors are forced to participate, battling monsters, dodging traps, and trying to win favor with alien spectators who treat their suffering as entertainment.

Carl, a Coast Guard veteran, and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, form an unlikely team. Thanks to the game’s bizarre rules, Donut gains intelligence and speech, becoming both Carl’s partner and comic foil. Together, they fight their way through dungeon levels that are as absurd as they are deadly.

When Will We See It?

Universal Studios and Fuzzy Door are attached to the project, with Christopher Yost writing. What that means is that there won’t be any production details until they’re finished writing the scripts, which will be largely a one-man operation, with probable input from Dinniman. This is the preproduction phase, during which the director and other principles will be selected and the stories are developed for the screen. Development on such a project can take between two and four years.

You can find all seven of the books in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series on Amazon.