Ricky Gervais' Alley Cats Sets Summer 2026 Release on Netflix

Ricky Gervais' New Animated Series Alley Cats Is Coming to Netflix This Summer

Love him or hate him, Ricky Gervais knows how to start conversations. The comedian, actor, and creator of The Office, After Life, and Derek is heading into uncharted territory with Alley Cats, an adult animated series that he is creating, starring in, and directing. Netflix has confirmed a summer 2026 release, and it is shaping up to be one of the most unexpected projects of his career.

What We Know About Alley Cats

Gervais has kept the plot details tightly under wraps, but the title alone tells us we are looking at a story centered around cats, likely with the dark humor and biting social commentary that has become his signature. This is not BoJack Horseman territory, exactly, but the adult animation format suggests Gervais is using the medium to push boundaries in ways live-action would not allow. Think South Park meets The Office, but with fur and claws.

The series adds to Netflix's already impressive animation lineup in 2026, which includes Devil May Cry Season 2, Shane Gillis' Tires Season 3 arriving in August, and Martin Scorsese executive producing an untitled Vegas casino series starring Oscar Isaac. Netflix is clearly doubling down on creator-driven projects across every genre.

Why Gervais Going Animated Matters

For a creator known for deeply personal, grounded shows like After Life, jumping into adult animation is a pivot. But Gervais has always been drawn to subversion, and animation gives him the freedom to explore satire and commentary without the constraints of a traditional set. If there is one thing we know about Gervais, it is that he is not going to play it safe. Expect Alley Cats to be provocative, hilarious, and probably offensive to at least half the internet. That is kind of the point.