If you’ve ever wondered what a meaner, sadder David Brent would look like, Ricky Gervais has got you covered. Despite recent stand-up specials for Netflix garnering widespread criticism of transphobic jokes involving Caitlyn Jenner, the streaming site is putting out a new series from the controversial comedian and creator of the original U.K. version of “The Office.” This first official trailer offers a glimpse of the new project, and leave to it to Gervais to make a compelling and funny comedy about a depressed widower reeling after the death of his wife.
The official synopsis reads: “From the mind of Ricky Gervais, ‘After Life’ is a the story of Tony, who had an all-too-perfect life. But after his wife Lisa suddenly dies, Tony changes. He decides instead to live long enough to punish the world by saying and doing whatever he likes from now on. He thinks it’s like a Super Power — not caring about himself or anyone else — but it turns out to be tricky when everyone is trying to save the nice guy they used to know.”
Going off of this trailer, the tone of the series appears to veer somewhere between “Enlightenment” and “The Office,” with Gervais’ signature brand of hate-to-love him humor sweetening the pot. Playing Tony’s dad, who never remembers Lisa is dead is “Game of Thrones” fan favorite David Bradley, who plays Walder Frey on the blockbuster HBO fantasy series. The six-episode series was written and directed entirely by Gervais, and also stars Tom Basden, Roisin Conaty, Kerry Godliman, Ashley Jensen, Paul Kaye, Diane Morgan, Tony Way, and “Downton Abbey” star Penelope Wilton.
Check out the trailer for “After Life” (including a particularly brutal Gervais barb directed at a chubby ginger boy), below.