The book phenomenon known as Dungeon Crawler Carl is getting a live action series from Seth MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door Productions and as someone who has read all 8 books in the series, I was excited to visualize who I think could play the characters. So check out my list and let me know your choices.

Carl – Paul Mescal

Paul Mescal (Gladiator II, Hamnet) is an up-and-coming actor that can pull off the look of Carl, but I also think he would be perfect for the role not only for his physicality, but also his acting. Carl is a character thrust into an impossible situation with impossible odds and I think Mescal can give the character the gravitas that he needs as well as an authenticity in reacting to the ridiculous circumstances he finds himself in.

Princess Donut – Jeff Hays

Grand Champion, Breed Winner Regional, National Winner Princess Donut the Queen Anne Chonk is a tortoiseshell Persian Cat and leader of the Royal Court of Princess Donut. She is one of the most vocal and outspoken characters in the book series. While there are several amazing voice actors that could take on the Princess, I think Jeff Hays, who voices the audiobook versions of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series would be perfect. I love Jeff’s portrayal of the character and I think that voice and energy would absolutely translate to a live action series.

Editor’s Note: This was written before the announcement at SDCC that Hays has been cast as Donut in the live action series… so yay Me!!

Prepotente – Alan Tudyk

Prepotente is one of my favorite characters in the series. He is both ridiculously intelligent and equally childlike. His erudite demeanor masks a creature newly discovering the world and the universe while searching for his place within it. I think Alan Tudyk is perfect for Prepotente both in his manner of speech, his long history in the voice acting world (Wreck it Ralph, Zootopia, Andor) and the way he can turn a sound into emotion and meaning (Moana).

Mordecai – Scott Grimes

Mordecai is a shapeshifting alien and former Crawler who serves as game guide for Carl and Donut. He previously survived his crawl until losing everyone and taking a deal which made him an indentured servant for multiple seasons. World weary and cynical with unresolved trauma, Mordecai is always on the edge of breaking, but eventually finds a way to care about Carl, Donut and the others. I think Scott Grimes (American Dad, The Orville, Ted) would be great as Mordecai both in voice and mannerisms. Also, I would love to see him take on different voices for each floor transformation.

Zev – Laura Bailey

Zev is a kua-tin (a fish like alien) who works for the company running the Earth Crawl. She becomes a liaison for Carl and Donut as well as a PR agent booking them on various talk shows and bonding quickly with Donut over their mutual love of earth television shows. Bailey is a master craftsman in the voice acting world and could bring great emotion to the character both in moments where she’s bonding with Donut as well as moments when she’s trying to hide her panic at the events happening around and to her.

Odette – Yvette Nicole Brown

Odette is another former Crawler and game guide with a connection to Mordecai. After escaping her indentureship, she went on to become one of the most popular talk show hosts in the universe. Between manipulating events to enrich herself, she does take time to help Carl during the Crawl, but her motivations are always a mystery. I think Yvette Nicole Brown (Community, The Loud House) would be perfect to play a character that can be sweet, charming and ruthless often in the same conversation.

Katia Grim – Natalia Tena

Katia is a fellow Crawler who is assigned to Donut and Carl to help her level up as she severely lags behind the other members of her party. Through getting to know her, they discover a woman of resilience who also hides some dark personal tragedies along with skills the group desperately needs to survive the Dungeon. Natalia Tena (Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, The Mandalorian) has proven a solid performer in multiple genres and would bring both an edge and emotional range to Katia that I would love to see.

Imani – Alanna Ubach

A former nurse at the Meadow Lark nursing home, Imani becomes a Crawler and meets Carl and Donut early on their adventures along with fellow Meadow Lark staff Chris and Brandon and resident Ellie. Imani is a resilient, brave and sarcastic person who becomes a healer within the Dungeon as a Crawler. I think Alanna Ubach (Ted, Euphoria, Legally Blonde) would be the perfect mixture of sarcasm and resiliency Imani needs because the actress is a virtual chameleon when taking on a role.

Elle McGibbons – Kathy Bates

Elle is a resident of the Meadow Lark nursing home and a stubborn, opinionated woman who knows her own mind as well as how to survive. Something she does extremely well in the Dungeon with her sharp wit and quick thinking. I have loved Kathy Bates (Misery, Dolores Claiborne, Matlock) as an actress and performer for years and she would kill it as Ellie both in her original form as when she finally picks a class in the Dungeon.

Chris Andrews – J. Lee

Chris is a maintenance man at the Meadow Lark nursing home and entered the Dungeon with his brother and a group of nurses and residents to escape the cold. He is stoic, often contemplative and brave. J. Lee (The Orville, American Dad) has a history with Seth MacFarlane and has the acting chops to take on the role and make him unique and memorable.

Brandon – LiL Rel Howery

Brandon is Chris’ brother and another maintenance worker at Meadow Lark who becomes a Crawler both to protect his brother, but also the resident survivors of Meadow Lark. Brandon is the more talkative brother and the first one to meet Carl and Donut and trust them. Lil Rel Howery (Get Out, Vacation Friends) has played some entertaining and varied roles throughout his career and could bring something interesting to the role.

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