Ricky Gervais teases second season of Netflix show 'After Life'

8 March 2019, 17:04

By Benedict Townsend

Ricky Gervais talks his brand new Netflix show 'After life' and reveals what we can expected from his highly anticipated upcoming standup tour

Comedy legend Ricky Gervais came along to Popbuzz HQ to talk After Life, his hilarious, dark - and hilariously dark - new Netflix show.

After Life was written and directed by Ricky, and he also stars as the main character Tony, a recently widowed man whose life is spiralling out control. Close to ending it all, Tony decides to start doing and saying exactly what he wants at all time - something he thinks of almost as a superpower.

Despite the dark themes, Ricky is keen to emphasise that the show is funny (we've seen it - it is!) and will make you laugh as much as it makes you think. During our chat he revealed a number of interesting bits and pieces, some of which you can read below, including his plans for a possible second season, details about his brand new standup tour and his take on After Life's most talked-about scene.

You can read the edited highlights from our chat below, or watch the full interview above or on our YouTube channel.

PopBuzz: This show has some dark topics, for a comedy.

Ricky: "It's hard to explain to people who haven't see it, where the comedy comes from - but it is really funny, because he's angry and he's saying what he wants and... we support him because we know he was a nice guy and how much he's lost. We know he's wounded, the things he says to people... it's really liberating. We live vicariously through his courage because sometimes we want to say what's on our mind and we bite our tongue. That's where the fun comes from."

PB: There's an element of the show that we think might spark conversation - a death that Tony is involved in. What's your take on it?

Ricky: "I don't think he does (kill someone). I think he leaves the decision up to this guy who is in pain and doesn't want to live. At worse it's like a mercy killing. It's like he left the gun cabinet unlocked."

After Life | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

PB: Let's talk about your upcoming standup show. Can you give us a peek into what it's all about?

Ricky: "My follow-up to Humanity is called 'SuperNature'. It's called 'SuperNature' for two reasons: one, I debunk the supernatural... and also I conclude that nature is super enough, we don't need to make up myths and legends we've got amazing things on this planet and life is precious and incredible. It's quite personal and I talk about school days and why are we here... again I should say that it's not a lecture, it's really funny [laughs]. I do deal with dark subjects and taboo subjects because I want to take the audience to a place they've never been before... that's what humour is for, it's for getting us through terrible things."

PopBuzz: After Life is quite a complete-feeling show, but will we see a second season?

Ricky: "I've fallen in love with the characters and I've fallen in love with the world and I've fallen in love with Tony exploring life so if people like it and Netflix have got any money left, I'd like to do a second season."

After Life is out now on Netflix.