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Monday 18 July 2011

News: Ricky Gervais Writing New Show "Afterlife"

Today EW is carrying the exclusive of Ricky Gervais teaming with Clyde Phillips, a former showrunner for Showtime's Dexter to write a new comedy series entitled Afterlife.


The show apparently centres on "an atheist who dies and goes to heaven", with Gervais only taking on a cameo role. 


Its focus on religion is obviously a favourite topic to be mined for comedy for Gervais, with The Invention of Lying being a big allusion to the Bible, and religion in general. And it has also been the subject of one of his more famous stand-up routines. He also feels passionate enough about his life as an atheist that he has now written a number of essays, one entitled "Why I'm An Atheist" for the Wall Street Journal and an "Easter Message" on his blog.


The show will film in early 2012.


This marks the first time Gervais has partnered with someone else apart from Stephen Merchant (his writing partner on The Office, Extras and Life's Too Short) to write a TV show. He has, of course, written a movie with Matthew Robinson in The Invention of Lying.



It also makes Gervais- who if he wasn't the busiest man in showbusiness at the moment- even busier than he already is.


At the moment, he is already working on Season 3 of The Ricky Gervais Show for HBO, Season 2 of An Idiot Abroad with Karl Pilkington, writing and directing Life's Too Short with Stephen Merchant (not to mention acting in the show).


He has also been nominated for Golden Globes for his Emmy hosting gig, as well as his Out of England special for HBO.


Oh, and did I mention he will be appearing on an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm's eighth season?


With Gervais recently celebrating the tenth year anniversary of The Office, he can hardly be accused of resting on his laurels.

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