Ricky Gervais Is Back on Netflix With a New Comedy — Reuniting With After Life Favourites
Comedy legend Ricky Gervais is bringing fresh laughs to Netflix with his latest project, and he’s teaming up with some familiar faces from After Life. Here’s what fans can expect from his newest comedy venture.
Ricky Gervais is turning his After Life gang into alley-dwelling cats for Netflix. Yes, really. It is animated, it is very British, and because animation takes forever, you will be waiting a while: Netflix has it pegged for 2026.
What is 'Alley Cats'?
Netflix has ordered a six-episode animated comedy called 'Alley Cats', co-directed by Gervais and animator Elliot Dear. The show follows a scrappy crew of feral British cats who hang out, seek some form of companionship, and overthink the small dramas of daily life. Basically, After Life vibes, but with whiskers and bins.
"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."
Who is in it?
Gervais is voicing one of the cats and he is bringing a bunch of familiar faces from After Life with him. If you watched that show, you will recognize the lineup:
- Kerry Godliman
- David Earl
- Tom Basden
- Diane Morgan
- Tony Way
- Andrew Brooke
- Jo Hartley
Why animation, and why the wait?
Gervais first talked about this project back in 2023 during an online Q&A. He said they had started work, warned it would take a long time because animation is slow, and admitted he picked animation thinking it would be easier than live-action... then immediately realized it is not. The 2026 release date tracks with that: even when a show is "finished" from a production standpoint, animation pipelines, post, and streamer scheduling can push the premiere out. Inside baseball, but this is how it goes.
When and where to watch
'Alley Cats' premieres on Netflix in 2026. In the UK, Netflix plans start at £5.99 a month, and the service is also available through Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.