Tom Ellis Gets Daughters' Stamp of Approval for Exploding Kittens—And Hints at More Comedy Roles Ahead

When it comes to honest critics, few are tougher than your own kids. Tom Ellis learned that firsthand when he screened his new animated Netflix series, Exploding Kittens, for his daughters. The verdict? A resounding thumbs-up—and plenty of laughter.

The Family Approval

Ellis, 45, confessed that his children—ages 12, 16, and 19 from previous relationships—plus wife Meaghan Oppenheimer, served as the ultimate test audience. "I watched it with my kids and my wife, who are a tough audience, and they were laughing all the way through," he tells us. "So I thought, 'OK, this is good.'"

But his daughters surprised him by catching more of the adult humor than he expected. "Some of the more irreverent adult jokes, I think they got, which I was a bit like, 'Hmm, OK,'" he chuckled. "But I think they just like the whole world of it. It's silly and it's fun and you can't help but laugh."

GodCat: A Devilish Turn from the Devil Himself

In Exploding Kittens, Ellis voices GodCat—God fired from heaven and trapped in the body of a chubby cat on Earth. He moves in with a dysfunctional family and must help them solve their problems as part of his rehabilitation. Complicating matters? The Devil (voiced by Sasheer Zamata) is living next door as another cat. It's a premise that feels tailor-made for the actor who famously played the Devil himself on Lucifer for six seasons.

From Lucifer to GodCat: A Comedy Homecoming

Ellis admits he hadn't done this much pure comedy in years. "I worked a lot in comedy in the U.K. before I came out here," he says, recalling his days on the live-audience sitcom Miranda. "I learned a lot through that experience." But in Miranda, he often played the straight man. Now, as GodCat, he's the one delivering punchline after punchline. "It is a lovely skill set to be able to use, so I would love to do more of it in the future, absolutely."

The series, rated TV-MA, walks that delicate line between family-friendly and adult humor. "This is the sort of show that caters to kids and adults in the best way that animation does," Ellis explains. "Think about the good old Pixar movies—there's always jokes in there for the adults, and jokes for the kids. This is exactly what Exploding Kittens is like."

The Genesis of the Project: A Family Affair

Interestingly, Ellis's daughters were the ones who clued him into the popularity of the original card game. "I got a call about it—Netflix are doing a new animated series based on the very popular card game Exploding Kittens—and I was like, 'I've never heard that game,'" he recalls. "So I talked to my children about it and they were like, 'Dad, I can't believe you've never heard of this, it's, like, super popular.'" Then the scripts arrived, and Ellis was hooked: "I was like, 'Oh, wow. This is really funny.'"

What's Next for Tom Ellis: Drama, Mystery, and a Star-Studded British Ensemble

While comedy is calling, Ellis isn't abandoning drama. In fact, he's juggling multiple high-profile projects that showcase his range.

Tell Me Lies Season 2

Ellis will play a professor in the upcoming second season of Hulu's Tell Me Lies, a show his wife, Meaghan Oppenheimer, serves as showrunner. Expect more of the tense, relationship-driven storytelling that made the first season a hit.

The Thursday Murder Club

Perhaps the most exciting project on his slate is the film adaptation of Richard Osman's best-selling crime novel The Thursday Murder Club. The cast is a murderers' row of British acting royalty: Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, David Tennant, and Naomi Ackie. Ellis, who already had a Zoom with Brosnan, can barely contain his excitement. "I can't believe it. I feel like I won a competition," he says. "I'm playing Pierce Brosnan's son in it. It's a who's who of just British acting royalty." Chris Columbus is directing, adding to the pedigree.

Ellis is currently reading the books to prepare. "They are hugely enjoyable," he notes, and filming starts soon in London.

Key Takeaways from the Interview

• Family First: Ellis's daughters were the first to approve Exploding Kittens, catching adult jokes that surprised their dad.
• Comedy Comeback: After years as the straight man on Lucifer and Miranda, Ellis relishes delivering punchlines as GodCat.
• Next Steps: He's balancing a dramatic role on Tell Me Lies with the star-studded Thursday Murder Club film.
• Fan Favorite: Fans of Lucifer will appreciate seeing Ellis's comedic timing in full force once again.

Exploding Kittens is streaming now on Netflix, while The Thursday Murder Club is expected to debut in 2025. For Tom Ellis, the only thing better than playing God—or the Devil—might be making his kids laugh.

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