Tom Ellis Goes from Lucifer to Catgod in Netflix’s Exploding Kittens – First Teaser Reveals Divine Chaos

Tom Ellis is trading Lucifer’s suave devil for something far more divine—and far fluffier. The beloved star of Netflix’s hit series Lucifer is back on the streaming platform, but this time he’s voicing God himself. And yes, God is a cat. According to the newly released teaser and preview images for Exploding Kittens, the upcoming adult animated series from showrunners Shane Kosakowski and Matthew Inman, Ellis’s character—dubbed “Catgod”—is about to unleash holy havoc on an unsuspecting family.

Fans who have followed Ellis since his devilishly charming days will find his latest role both hilarious and fitting. The first official teaser, revealed exclusively alongside new key art captured in Screenshot (550).png, offers a chaotic glimpse into a world where the Almighty gets fired from heaven, banished to Earth, and trapped inside the body of an overweight house cat. The result? A celestial comedy that promises to be one of the summer’s most anticipated animated events.

God Gets Fired – and Turned into a House Cat

The premise, as detailed in the source material from Screenshot (550).png, could only come from the twisted minds behind the Exploding Kittens card game. “Earth sucks, so God (Ellis) gets fired and sent to Earth to reconnect with humanity,” the official logline reads. “The catch? He’s trapped in the body of a chubby house cat.”

During his rehabilitation, Godcat moves in with a dysfunctional family, trying to solve their problems—but ends up spending most of his time chasing laser pointers instead. The show’s humor leans heavily into the absurd, blending divine duties with mundane cat behavior. It’s a premise that feels tailor-made for Ellis, who masterfully balanced supernatural drama with deadpan comedy throughout Lucifer’s six seasons.

For those unfamiliar with Ellis’s career trajectory, the Welsh actor first gained international fame as the charming devil on Fox and later Netflix’s Lucifer. The show ran for six seasons, ending in 2021, and amassed a devoted fanbase. Ellis’s ability to portray a fallen angel with heart and humor made him a standout. Now, he’s flipping the script—literally—by playing the other ultimate being. This role feels like a natural progression for an actor who knows how to embody larger-than-life characters with a wink.

The Ultimate Battle of Good vs. Evil... with Laser Pointers

If you thought God being a cat was crazy enough, wait until you meet the neighbor. The teaser confirms that Godcat’s next-door feline is none other than his nemesis: the Antichrist, voiced by Sasheer Zamata. “The result is the ultimate fight between good versus evil…except Godcat is distracted by a pigeon he saw in the yard and Devilcat is busy napping on someone’s laptop,” the series description hilariously notes.

Zamata, a former Saturday Night Live star, brings her own brand of sharp comedy to Devilcat. The dynamic between these two divine felines sets the stage for a battle that is less about cosmic stakes and more about who gets the sunniest spot on the carpet. The preview images from Screenshot (550).png show both characters lounging with utter indifference, suggesting the war between heaven and hell has never been so adorable—or so lazy.

The show doesn’t stop there. The cast is stacked with comedy heavyweights. Suzy Nakamura voices Abbie, the long-suffering human of the household; Mark Proksch (What We Do in the Shadows) plays Marv; Ally Maki takes on Grets; and Kenny Yates rounds out the family as Travis. Together, they form the dysfunctional unit that Godcat must “save.” Judging by the images, his methods involve a lot of knocking things off tables.

An All-Star Voice Cast and Creative Powerhouse

The talent behind the scenes is just as impressive. The series is executive-produced by comedy legends Mike Judge (King of the Hill, Beavis and Butt-Head) and Greg Daniels (The Simpsons, The Office) alongside Dustin Davis of Bandera Entertainment. Peter Chernin and Jenno Topping also serve as EPs for Chernin Entertainment Group. With that lineup, Exploding Kittens arrives with serious comedy pedigree.

Showrunners Shane Kosakowski (known for You’re the Worst and Teenage Bounty Hunters) and Matthew Inman (founder of The Oatmeal and co-creator of the original card game) have crafted a series that stays faithful to the game’s chaotic spirit while expanding into a full-fledged narrative. Inman’s signature art style is instantly recognizable in the character designs, and the humor retains the edgy, irreverent tone that made the card game a sensation.

The Exploding Kittens Phenomenon

For the uninitiated, Exploding Kittens started as a Kickstarter campaign in 2015 and quickly became the most backed project in the platform’s history at the time. The card game, which involves drawing cards until someone pulls an “Exploding Kitten” and loses—unless they defuse it with cat toys or catnip—has sold over 25 million copies worldwide. It’s a testament to the bizarre appeal of mixing kittens with sudden, cartoonish violence.

The transition to an animated series was only a matter of time. Netflix, which has a strong track record with adult animated comedies like Big Mouth and BoJack Horseman, seems like the perfect home for such a property. The series is set to premiere in July 2024, though an exact date has yet to be announced. Based on the teaser, fans can expect rapid-fire jokes, surreal scenarios, and plenty of cat-related antics that will appeal to both card game loyalists and newcomers.

One can’t help but draw parallels between Ellis’s career and the show’s premise. After playing the devil for six years, taking on the role of a flawed, feline God feels like a conscious departure. Ellis has mentioned in interviews his desire to avoid being typecast. With Exploding Kittens, he embraces animation and absurdity, proving his range extends far beyond live-action villains.

The teaser, which dropped alongside the images from Screenshot (550).png, already generated significant buzz on social media. Fans of Lucifer are eagerly sharing clips, marveling at the tonal shift. The series also arrives at a time when animated shows are enjoying a renaissance, with streaming services investing heavily in voice-driven content. Exploding Kittens may just be the next breakout hit.

As the countdown to July begins, one thing is clear: when God falls from grace, he lands on all fours. And if the teaser is any indication, he’ll be clawing his way into our hearts this summer.

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