Ricky Gervais has a new sitcom coming to Netflix. It’s his first in 15 years and promises his trademark awkward and funny style, along with a cast that includes several familiar faces he’s collaborated with in the past. Be warned, it’s rated R!
Unlike the comedian’s past Netflix projects, which were live-action dramas or stand-up comedy shows, this new series is an animated sitcom geared towards adults, featuring mature content and strong language. Called Alley Cats, the show centers around a group of stray cats and their adventures as they navigate personal challenges and try to figure out who they are.
Similar to many successful animated comedies, this show combines silly, over-the-top humor with genuine emotional moments. Because Ricky Gervais created it himself, it also features the uncomfortable and awkward social situations – and characters who often don’t realize how they’re coming across – that were hallmarks of his earlier hit, The Office.
The show Alley Cats feels very similar in style to the classic Garfield comic strips, particularly through its main character, Gus – a large, orange tabby cat voiced by Gervais. It’s as if the comedian is bringing his own dark and often sarcastic humor to the world created by Jim Davis.
Alley Cats Is Netflix’s Latest Ricky Gervais Comedy
Netflix revealed last September that Ricky Gervais has a new animated sitcom called Alley Cats, which will premiere on August 7, 2026. The first season has six episodes, each lasting 15 minutes, and was written by Gervais with animation provided by Blink Industries.
This new animated film comes from the creator of the popular Netflix series Afterlife. Like that show, it stars Ricky Gervais, but this time he provides the main voice. Alley Cats also boasts a talented cast of well-known British comedy actors, with Diane Morgan – famous for her character Philomena Cunk – as a standout.
Ricky Gervais is joined by familiar faces from his previous shows in his new Netflix series. Diane Morgan, who worked with him on Afterlife, returns, along with Tom Basden, Kerry Godliman, David Earl, Jo Hartley, and Andrew Brooke. Natalie Cassidy, known for Motherland, and Tony Way, who appeared with Gervais in Extras, also star in the upcoming release.
If people enjoy watching Alley Cats, the streaming service will likely order more episodes, possibly even a full second season. Right now, the show feels like a personal project for Ricky Gervais – a blend of his usual humor and his fondness for animals.
This Animated Sitcom Feels Like The Office Crossed With Garfield
I’ve been thinking a lot about Ricky Gervais lately, especially after seeing the special celebrating 25 years of The Office! It’s amazing how much that show still resonates, and it’s clear it really shaped comedy – even his own later work. I’ve been watching his new show, Alley Cats, and honestly, it feels like he’s deliberately capturing that same vibe and humor that made The Office so special. It’s like he’s building on everything he started with!
This new animated sitcom features surprisingly deep conversations between a group of street cats, where they ponder big questions about life and who they are, all while hilariously imagining themselves as important figures. Expect plenty of classic cartoon-style physical comedy, and fans of Garfield will immediately recognize similarities in the character of Gus, a chubby orange tabby.
The way Gus sits – slumped on an old couch in his alley hangout with his belly sticking out – strongly resembles the famous cartoon cat, Garfield. While Gus isn’t as pessimistic as Garfield and lives a different life, the comparison is clear.
2026-07-22 19:58