Age of The Nerd
Peacock’s Dungeon Crawler Carl adaptation brings the iconic voice behind the bestselling Audible series to the live-action show
Fans of Dungeon Crawler Carl just got the casting news they’ve been waiting for!
During a packed San Diego Comic-Con panel, Peacock officially announced that Jeff Hays—the legendary narrator whose performances helped turn Dungeon Crawler Carl into one of Audible’s biggest success stories—will voice the fan-favorite feline, Princess Donut, in the upcoming live-action adaptation.
The surprise reveal came during a panel featuring series writer and executive producer Chris Yost alongside Dungeon Crawler Carl creator and co-executive producer Matt Dinniman, sending the Comic-Con crowd into a frenzy.
For longtime fans, it feels like the perfect casting choice.
Jeff Hays Brings Princess Donut to Life
If you’ve listened to the audiobooks, you already know why this is such a huge deal. Jeff Hays’ unforgettable performance has become inseparable from Princess Donut’s larger-than-life personality, sharp wit, and royal attitude.
His narration has helped make the Dungeon Crawler Carl audiobook series an international phenomenon, racking up more than 140 million listening hours on Audible. The series even made history by becoming the only audiobook franchise to sweep The New York Times Audio Fiction Bestseller List in a single month.
Now, Hays will officially lend that same iconic voice to the live-action adaptation from Peacock, Fuzzy Door, and Universal Global Television.
A Massive Hit Is Coming to Peacock
Based on Matt Dinniman’s wildly popular LitRPG novels, Dungeon Crawler Carl has exploded into one of fantasy’s biggest modern success stories.
The bestselling series has sold more than 14 million copies across all formats, topped bestseller charts worldwide, and built an incredibly passionate fan community eager to see Carl and Princess Donut make the jump from page—and audiobook—to television.
Behind the adaptation is an impressive creative team led by Chris Yost, whose writing credits include major Marvel projects, with Seth MacFarlane, Erica Huggins, and Rachel Hargreaves-Heald serving as executive producers through Fuzzy Door. Matt Dinniman also joins the production as co-executive producer.
What’s Dungeon Crawler Carl About?
The story begins after an alien invasion wipes out most of humanity, forcing the survivors into a deadly intergalactic reality competition where every battle is broadcast for entertainment across the universe.
Former Coast Guard veteran Carl suddenly finds himself fighting monsters, aliens, rogue artificial intelligence, and fellow survivors—all while partnered with his ex-girlfriend’s pampered, tiara-wearing championship cat, Princess Donut the Queen Anne Chonk.
The result is an outrageous blend of action, dark comedy, RPG mechanics, and pure chaos that’s earned Dungeon Crawler Carl a devoted global following.
As the series itself perfectly puts it:
Survival is optional. Entertainment is not.
See Jeff Hays and Matt Dinniman at San Diego Comic-Con
Fans attending San Diego Comic-Con can catch Jeff Hays and Matt Dinniman together again during Audible’s panel:
“Goddamnit, Donut: A Totally Professional Panel with Matt Dinniman & Jeff Hays”
Saturday, July 25
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
With production ramping up and one of the franchise’s most beloved voices officially joining the cast, excitement for Peacock’s Dungeon Crawler Carl adaptation has reached an all-time high.
If this announcement is any indication, the apocalypse is going to be an absolute blast to watch.
