Seth MacFarlane Sets New Peacock Series Right After Ted Wraps
Seth MacFarlane is leveling up at Peacock with live-action series Dungeon Crawler Carl, adapted from the hit LitRPG books and set to follow his Ted swan song. Variety reports the project is in development, with plot and casting still under wraps.
Well, Seth MacFarlane is back in the TV game—again—and this time he’s heading into truly weird territory. If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if you dropped a Coast Guard veteran and a talking, tiara-wearing cat into a blood-soaked, alien-run apocalypse gameshow, welcome to Dungeon Crawler Carl, coming soon to Peacock.
What the Heck Is 'Dungeon Crawler Carl'?
So, here’s the setup: Earth gets invaded by aliens, and nearly everyone bites the dust. The unlucky humans left alive are forced to participate in what’s basically an interstellar Hunger Games (with more cable channel energy), all broadcast for the amusement of offworld viewers. It’s not cozy, let’s just say that.
Our reluctant hero is Carl, a Coast Guard vet, who somehow ends up with his ex-girlfriend’s extremely spoiled cat, Princess Donut the Queen Anne Chonk, as his sole companion. Oh, and did I mention the cat talks, wears a tiara, and isn’t exactly a team player? The two have to fight monsters, aliens, AI gone bonkers, and—of course—other humans, all for survival (which, according to the show, is apparently optional).
Who's Behind This Mayhem?
- Seth MacFarlane – Executive producer, bringing along his trusty Fuzzy Door Productions team. So yes, expect some of that signature MacFarlane weirdness.
- Chris Yost – Writing and executive producing. He’s got comic book street cred (Marvel and beyond), so don’t be shocked if things get a little, well, out there.
- Matt Dinniman – The guy who actually wrote the Dungeon Crawler Carl book series and is also an exec producer here, making sure things don’t go completely off the rails.
- Also on board: Eric Huggins and Rachel Hargreaves-Heald in producing roles. (They’re a little more behind-the-scenes, but still important enough to get a mention.)
Any Worries About the Talking Cat?
Look, it’s a live-action show with a CGI cat who’s supposed to have a diva complex. The risk of this looking ridiculous is obvious, and fans of the books have been vocal about not wanting any Garfield-level shenanigans here.
Here’s what Matt Dinniman himself said when people started asking how the show might look:
If you’ve watched MacFarlane’s Ted movies (or The Orville), you know the man can pull off weird-looking talking critters. But still, the pressure is on—no one wants their cult-favorite book hero turned into a meme (unless it’s a good meme).
How Did This Get to Peacock, Anyway?
This show has been floating around the development ether for a while now. Universal International Studios originally snatched up the rights, and after some executive reshuffling (it’s TV, after all), Dungeon Crawler Carl finally found its spot on Peacock’s slate.
Quick Facts on the Book Series
The source material is a LitRPG book series (translation: video-game-style stats and mechanics baked into the story) by Matt Dinniman. The first book showed up in 2020, and as of now there are seven books out. Number eight drops May 12, 2026, so if you want to get ahead of the TV show, there’s plenty to binge.
Final Thoughts
It’s Seth MacFarlane, a talking cat with major main character energy, and a TV network that isn’t afraid of rolling the dice on something strange. The premise is nuts and the execution could go either way, but at least it’s not another bland procedural.
I’d say keep an eye on this one—if only to see whether Princess Donut looks more like a nightmare or a scene-stealer.