If you're a Dungeon Crawler Carl fan who has already torn through Matt Dinniman's latest book, A Parade of Horribles, you might be feeling that familiar itch for more. The LitRPG phenomenon is bigger than ever, with a graphic novel, a record-breaking tabletop RPG, and a Peacock TV adaptation from Seth MacFarlane on the way. But while you wait for Carl and Princess Donut to return to screens, there's a hidden gem on Hulu that scratches a very similar itch.
Future Man, starring Josh Hutcherson, is a wildly underrated sci-fi series that premiered back in 2017—a couple of years before the first Dungeon Crawler Carl book hit shelves. Created by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, this show brings the same blend of high-stakes apocalypse, raunchy humor, and absurd violence that DCC fans love. It's as close as TV has come to capturing that chaotic energy.
What Is 'Future Man' About?
The series follows Josh Futturman, a janitor and video game prodigy who becomes the first person ever to beat an unbeatable game. His reward? Two characters from the game—played by Eliza Coupe and Derek Wilson—appear in real life, claiming they're from the future and that Josh is humanity's only hope. What follows is a wild, time-traveling adventure full of unexpected twists, crude jokes, and surprisingly heartfelt moments.
While Future Man doesn't have a talking cat like Princess Donut, it does share DCC's knack for mixing massive sci-fi stakes with a whimsical, often ridiculous sense of humor. The show also delivers plenty of unexpected, over-the-top violence—another staple of Dinniman's books. If you're looking for a show that balances world-ending threats with laugh-out-loud absurdity, this is it.
Why 'Future Man' Is the Perfect DCC Replacement
Both Future Man and Dungeon Crawler Carl thrive on the idea of ordinary people thrown into extraordinary, often absurd situations. Josh is a relatable everyman, much like Carl, and his journey through time mirrors the dungeon's ever-changing floors. The show's three seasons offer a complete story, so you can binge the whole thing without waiting for a next installment.
For fans who enjoy the raunchy, boundary-pushing humor of Rogen and Goldberg's other projects—like This Is the End or Pineapple Express—Future Man delivers that same energy. It's a show that never takes itself too seriously, even when the fate of humanity hangs in the balance. And if you're a fan of genre-bending horror series, you'll appreciate how Future Man blends sci-fi with comedy.
The Wait for 'Dungeon Crawler Carl' on TV
Meanwhile, the official Dungeon Crawler Carl TV adaptation is moving forward at Peacock, with Seth MacFarlane executive producing. The decision to go live-action rather than animated has raised eyebrows, given the series' sprawling, ever-changing universe—from feral gods to Raul the Crab. But if anyone can pull off the impossible, it's Carl. Until then, Future Man is the perfect way to fill that Donut-sized void.
So if you've already binged other sci-fi thrillers and need something new, give Future Man a shot. It's a hidden gem that deserves way more love—and it might just be the closest thing to Dungeon Crawler Carl on TV right now.
