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.