Ricky Gervais reunites with Netflix for adult animation

After Life creator and star Ricky Gervais’ next Netflix series has been unveiled in the form of an adult animation about a group of feral British cats.  

Gervais is the creator, exec producer, director and star of the 6 x 15-minute Alley Cats, which will launchon the streamer next year. 

It will reunite After Life co-stars Tom Basden, Kerry Godliman, Diane Morgan, Tony Way, Jo Hartley, Andrew Brooke and David Earl, with EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy also set to feature.  

They will each portray cats seeking companionship and experiencing the trials and tribulations of everyday life, with Blink Industries, which was behind Netflix’s Dead End: Paranormal Park, on board to provide the 2D animation.  

Gervais’ Derek Productions will produce the show alongside Shush Creative, whose founder Steven Hamilton Shaw (Gnomeo & Juliet) will serve as co-executive producer. The co-director is Elliot Dear and the production designer is Tang Heng (Kung Fu Panda).  

Gervais said: “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.”  

It is not the first time the comedian has entered the world of animation, having been an executive producer for the HBO animated series The Ricky Gervais Show, alongside Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington. The series ran from 2010 to 2012.  

An animated adaptation of his book series Flanimals was in development with ITV and scheduled for 2009 but was scrapped before airing. 

Gervais is also the creative force behind BBC hits The Office and Extras.