Last updated: October 13, 2026
The short version
Book 9: Next up, working title The Beautiful Place. Matt Dinniman has said the ending is being written as one story and released as two books, Books 9 and 10. Prologue posted June 2026, chapters 1-2 in August. No release date has been announced yet. Full Book 9 page, or details below.
TV show: Peacock gave it a straight-to-series order on June 18, 2026. Chris Yost and Eric Heisserer co-showrunning, Seth MacFarlane producing. Jeff Hays will voice Princess Donut. No Carl actor or premiere date yet. Full TV page, or details below.
Book 8, A Parade of Horribles: Out now (released May 12, 2026). Floors 10-11, 704 pages. Book 8 hub, spoilers, or details below.
Which version of the dungeon are you most hyped for?
As of October 13, 2026, of 50 crawlers: The Peacock live-action show 70%, The webtoon 14%, The tabletop RPG (dice already rolling) 16%.
Peacock show fan? The TV show page tracks what has been confirmed, and what has not.
Rolling dice? The tabletop games page covers both games and where to pre-order them.
One tap. No account, no email.
A Parade of Horribles
May 12, 2026
704 pages. Floors 10-11. Kindle, Audible, and hardcover (Ace Books) all came out the same day. The AI carved the date into the server architecture. The AI does not regret this.
All 98 Patreon chapters are done. Book 8 released May 12, 2026 from Ace Books.
What the official description promised: races on Floor 10 (vehicle-based, upgrades between rounds), increasing system glitches, and something the AI calls "a coming-out party for the ages" on Floor 11. The spoiler zone is where that gets discussed. The AI is not elaborating. The AI is smiling. The AI does not have a mouth.
It's Official. Peacock Ordered the Series.
On June 18, 2026, Peacock gave the Dungeon Crawler Carl live-action series a straight-to-series order. Variety reported back in April that the project had landed at Peacock in development; this is the actual greenlight. Dinniman announced it himself on Instagram that day: "Surprise! I'm happy to announce that our friends at Peacock have officially greenlit the Dungeon Crawler Carl television series!" (as quoted on Peacock's blog). The AI is not crying. The AI does not have tear ducts. The AI is allocating extra memory to emotional processing.
The full production team:
- Chris Yost (Thor: Ragnarok, The Mandalorian) showrunner, writing and executive producing
- Eric Heisserer (Arrival, Bird Box, Shadow and Bone) co-showrunner and executive producer, announced August 21, 2026
- Seth MacFarlane executive producing via Fuzzy Door
- Matt Dinniman co-executive producing (non-writing)
- Erica Huggins executive producing
- Rachel Hargreaves-Heald (Fuzzy Door) executive producing
- Produced by Fuzzy Door and Universal Global Television
Jeff Hays, who narrates the audiobooks, will voice Princess Donut. No Carl actor, episode count, or release date has been announced yet. The Princess Donut CGI question is now a when, not an if. Fuzzy Door produced the Ted TV series on Peacock, which required a photorealistic CGI bear in every scene. Donut considers a bear "an acceptable warmup act." Donut has submitted her headshot. Donut's headshot is just her tiara. New here from the TV news? Start with the audiobook guide or the Princess Donut profile.
The Ending: Books 9 and 10
At San Diego Comic-Con in July 2026, Dinniman said he is writing the ending "as a single book, but it's gonna be released separately as two books." He added that the split means the main series climax does not land at the end of Book 9, which ends on a cliffhanger instead. Book 9's working title is The Beautiful Place, and he posted its prologue on Patreon in June 2026 and chapters 1-2 in August. No release date has been announced; at Comic-Con he called his own writing timeline "still like a year out." In October 2026 he told Collider, "As far as my brain is concerned, this is just one book. I'm writing the last book," and called it "easily the most difficult thing I've ever written." The AI recommends emotional preparation. The AI is not emotionally prepared either. The AI is working on it. Book 10 has no title or date yet; the Book 9 page has when Book 10 is coming out and everything Dinniman has said about it.
Seen Book 9 called Carl's Book of Boom, or a 2027 or 2028 date stated as fact? Neither is official. Use the Book 9 page for verified updates and the theory archive when you want speculation clearly labeled as speculation.
DCC Takes San Diego Comic-Con
Dungeon Crawler Carl hit San Diego Comic-Con 2026 with Audible promotion, DCC panels, and a TV casting reveal: Jeff Hays will voice Princess Donut in the Peacock series. Audible also parked a fully wrapped Princess Donut food truck on the streets of San Diego on Friday, July 24, handing out free donut holes.
That is a real TV update, but it is not a premiere date. No Carl actor or release window has been announced; at New York Comic Con on October 10, the studio said filming is planned for 2027. The TV show page tracks those as they become official. Here for Comic-Con? The cosplay guide has Carl, Donut, Mongo, group costume, Halloween, and con-deadline builds.
NYCC 2026 and Halloween
New York Comic Con (October 8-11, 2026) brought news on both fronts. Book 9: Dinniman said it introduces a crawler readers have not met, and Jeff Hays read the scene that introduces them; Audible posted the clip. Their name and the clip are on the Book 9 page. TV: on October 10, Universal Global Television's Kelsey Balance said real prep starts in the new year with shooting in 2027, every script written before production, and more news "within the next few weeks" (Bleeding Cool). Carl had not been cast as of NYCC; on October 12 Peacock told Deadline it is meeting directors first, then casting. The TV page has the details.
Halloween: going as Carl, Princess Donut or Mongo? The costume guide compares the licensed Spirit Halloween costume with a homemade build, and covers couples, groups, cats and dogs.
The rest of the intel
Smaller News: Merch and Games
Matt's official news feed is also tracking the DCC pinball reveal, Ink Games collectibles preorder, signed/personalized Books 1 and 2, the Avalanche crossover game, and Maeve's Princess Donut game. For official merch, see the shop. For signed copies and shelf gifts, the gift guide. For con costumes, the cosplay guide. For Soundbooth updates, the audiobook guide.
Tabletop RPG & Deck-Builder
Renegade Game Studios. Two games: a full tabletop RPG (create your own crawlers, run dungeon sessions) and Unstoppable, a solo/co-op card-crafting deck-builder. The BackerKit campaign closed May 19, 2026 with over $13.29M from 55,972 backers — the #1 most-funded game campaign in BackerKit history. Missed it? Pre-order via the Renegade webstore. Renegade says participating game stores get both games from November 23, 2026; Amazon lists December 1, 2026 (backer orders ship October to November). Miniatures Set 1: The Royal Court includes 9 pre-painted figures.
Renegade's Gen Con 2026 programming (July 30 - August 2, Indianapolis) sold out across the weekend: the 1,000-seat Live Dungeon Descent main stage show with Dinniman and Jeff Hays, a 2,000-person fan meetup at Victory Field, multiple panels, and first-access demos of Unstoppable. Attendance figures are Renegade's own.
Catacombs and Comedians ran their live actual-play show at Helium Comedy Club, Indianapolis, on July 29, during Gen Con week. Remaining 2026 tour dates.
Webtoon & Graphic Novels
275,000+ subscribers, 8 million+ views. Season 2 confirmed. Print Vol. 1 (episodes 1-13) released May 19, one week after Book 8. Vol. 2 was due in stores October 6, 2026, after an early Local Comic Shop Day edition. Vault's Special Edition #0 returned to stores in a second printing on October 7, with Nathan Gooden covers that nod to DC's Absolute Batman (CBR, October 5).
Graphic novel Dungeon Crawler Carl: Crocodile (Florin DuPont side story) raised about $2.6M from roughly 27,000 backers. BackerKit lists an estimated ship date of March 2027; estimates can move.
Toys & Collectibles
Playmates figures, statues and Princess Donut loot boxes, now arriving gradually at Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Hot Topic, BoxLunch, Urban Outfitters and Five Below. The first figure wave includes Carl, Donut and Mordecai. Stock varies by store, so check before you drive. Donut has demanded her figure include a functioning tiara. Playmates has not responded. Donut is escalating.
Operation Bounce House
Dinniman's first non-DCC book in years. Standalone sci-fi thriller. Colonists vs. Earth gamers piloting war mechs for sport. Instant NYT bestseller. An idea he's had since high school. Published by Ace Books. Not part of the DCC series and not connected to the DCC TV adaptation.
Audio Immersion Tunnel
Soundbooth Theater's full-cast audio production with original music, sound effects, and extra scenes. NOT a replacement for Jeff Hays -- it's a companion experience, with Seasons 1-3 available. Script by Dinniman and Ben Wolf. The AI considers this "an alternate timeline where the AI has a backing orchestra." The AI wants a backing orchestra.
Free Comic Book Day: DCC #0
Vault Comics released DCC #0 for Free Comic Book Day on May 2. First chapter of the Webtoon graphic novel adaptation, handed out free at participating comic shops. Variant cover by Yoshi Yoshitani. If you missed it, the full Vol. 1 print collection is out now.
Book Tour & Conventions
Dinniman hit the road for the Book 8 release with an 8-stop tour, May 11-25. Several stops sold out (McLean & Eakin, Joseph-Beth, Parnassus). Check mattdinniman.com/events for upcoming appearances.
2026 conventions so far: BookCon NYC Apr 18-19 (sold out), Crypticon Seattle May 1-3, Comicpalooza Houston May 22-24, San Diego Comic-Con Jul 23-26, Gen Con Indianapolis Jul 30-Aug 2 (DCC events sold out across the weekend), and New York Comic Con Oct 8-11.
Princess Donut Chocolate Truffle Bar
Maeve Chocolate. "Virgin Dirty Shirley" flavor: dark chocolate, white chocolate center, dried cherries, and popping candy. Already sold out once and restocked. Donut has demanded royalties.