Ricky Gervais is heading back to Netflix, this time for an adult animated series about a bunch of feral cats.
“Alley Cats,” created by the Emmy and BAFTA-winning Gervais (“After Life,” “Extras,” “The Office”), is set to debut on the streamer in 2026. Netflix has released a first look image.
The six-part show is described as a “slacker sitcom” following the trials and tribulations of a group of feral British cats from all walks of society, who seek companionship while ruminating on everyday life.
Gervais directs and also voices one of the cats, joining a cast that reunites him with many of his on-screen collaborators over the years, including Tom Basden, Andrew Brooke, David Earl, Kerry Godliman, Jo Hartley and Diane Morgan. It also features Natalie Cassidy and Tony Way.
“I play a fat, lazy, rude, opinionated creature with fangs, who’s not as smart or brave as he thinks he is. So quite a stretch,” said Gervais.
“Alley Cats” is being co-directed by Elliot Dear, with the animation from U.K.-based award-winning studio Blink Industries (“Dead End: Paranormal Park,” “Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared”). Gervais exec produces for Derek Productions alongside Steven Hamilton Shaw (“Gnomeo & Juliet”) of Shush Creative. Tang Heng (“Kung Fu Panda” 1 & 2) serves as production designer.
Aside from his stand-up comedies, “Alley Cats” marks Gervais’ return to TV as a creator for the first time since “After Life,” which ran for three seasons on Netflix from 2019-2022. He was recently among the voice cast for “Dog Man,” playing Flippy the Fish, a cyborg butterfly fish with telekinesis.
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From Variety US