Ricky Gervais’ New Netflix Series ‘Alley Cats’ Is “The Avengers of British Comedy”

The 2026 Annecy International Film Festival is currently underway in the French Alps, running from Jun. 21 to Jun. 27. The massive industry event plays host to an extensive lineup of studio showcases, masterclasses, screenings, competitions, and more. This year, Ricky Gervais is in attendance to debut his new adult animated series, Alley Cats, which is scheduled for a summer release on Netflix. Described as a “slacker sitcom,” the six-part comedy follows the musings of a clowder of street cats navigating their urban surroundings. The furry felines all have distinct personalities and unique traits, making them an eclectic group, voiced by a powerhouse lineup of comedic talent, promising to bring heart and havoc to the story.

Created, directed, and co-produced by Gervais, Alley Cats boasts a phenomenal comic roster, primarily pulled from his critically acclaimed Netflix series After Life. Gervais himself leads the alleyway pack, voicing a “fat, lazy, rude and opinionated creature with fangs” named Gus, alongside Diane Morgan as Olive, David Earl as Puke, Tom Basden as Ponce, Kerry Godliman as Lara, Andrew Brooke as Fang, and Jo Harley as Kitten. The series features a bold 2D animation style, which can be glimpsed in the newly released trailer as well as the posters below, which showcase the cast of cats before we’re invited into their lives (all nine of them).

At the pre-Annecy International Animation Film Festival special event, which MovieWeb attended, Netflix’s Head of Animation series John Derderian offered some insight into what audiences can expect from Alley Cats – other than cats in all shapes and sizes. He drew attention to the masterclass that Gervais will be hosting to present his first major venture into animation, including a world-exclusive screening of the first two episodes, ahead of the series’ streaming debut this summer. According to Derderian, it’s one to add to your watchlist, as Gervais has assembled “the Avengers of British comedy” to add to the show’s pedigree:

“We’re excited to present a masterclass at the festival from a man who needs no introduction: multi-Emmy and BAFTA winner Ricky Gervais, who will give us a look at his brand-new adult animated comedy series, Alley Cats. The show follows a gang of foul-mouthed feral cats who cause havoc while musing on the meaning of life and fighting for survival in a brutal human world. Ricky has called upon his friends once again to assemble what is arguably the Avengers of British comedy, including Tom Bazin and Diane Morgan, just to name a few. From the funny to the absurd, it’s packed with Ricky’s signature style of heart and social commentary that audiences around the world have come to expect.”

Ahead of his masterclass on Thursday, Gervais expressed his enthusiasm over sharing the cat caper with the world, saying “I can’t wait for everyone to get to know these cats.” It is a relatively new venture for the comedian, as it is his first time as the sole creator of a scripted adult animation series. However, despite the obvious stylistic changes, the show appears to be retaining the hallmarks of his previous successes, framing his signature existential humor through the perspective of cats rather than human characters, utilizing visual punchlines, physical absurdity, and chaotic scenarios that may not be as feasible in live-action.