Is Ricky Gervais’ ‘Alley Cats’ returning for season two?
Ricky Gervais’ Netflix comeback with Alley Cats has become the talk of the streaming town, and rightfully so, having served the perfect dose of sharp-witted banter in a heartfelt story.
Created, written, and directed by Gervais alongside co-director Elliot Dear, the adult animated sitcom follows Gus, an outspoken ginger stray tomcat, and his group of foul-mouthed felines, who live in a run-down basement.
While they live a mundane life in general, of course, complete with their fair share of ups and downs, they run into a lost kitten one sudden day and make it their mission to drop her off at her family’s home. Although the kitten does find family by the end of Alley Cats, that hasn’t stopped viewers from speculating whether the show is returning for a second round.
Well, as of now, Netflix has not officially renewed the adult animated black comedy for a sophomore season. And considering its recent debut, that shouldn’t come as a surprise.
As is typically the case with Netflix, the streaming giant likes to weigh in a number of non-negotiable factors, including viewership numbers and completion rates, before green-lighting a project for continuation. So, it is perhaps too early to side with either possibility.
Similarly, comedian-actor-director Gervais noted at the Annecy Animation Festival in June that viewership would indeed influence whether Alley Cats returns for season two. But he, himself, looks more than ready to keep doing the series. He joked that “the cats aren’t going to age as I just get older and fatter. I’m going to just sit in a chair and make this forever.”
“I should just say how great Netflix has been because I wanted a second series. I love working with Netflix. It’s so great for them to do this,” Gervais jested while praising the streamer at Annecy.
That said, the After Life actor also streamed a live YouTube broadcast on August 9th, revealing to fans that Alley Cats had already snagged the number one spot during its debut weekend. “I have never been this happy,” he said.
As per early FlixPatrol data, the show has cracked the Top 10 charts in over 40 countries. Alley Cats reportedly debuted at number two in the UK on Saturday before reaching the top spot on Sunday and Monday. While that’s a promising sign for Gervais’ beloved sitcom, all that awaits is an official confirmation from Netflix.