Garfield is officially heading back to television. Paramount+ has ordered a new original 2D-animated series centered on the iconic orange cat, with Emmy-winning actor and comedian Lamorne Morris set to voice the famously sarcastic, lasagna-loving feline.
The tentatively titled Garfield series comes from Nickelodeon Animation Studios and is inspired by Jim Davis’ long-running comic strip, which first debuted in 1978. The project is currently in production and will showcase Garfield at his most laid-back and cynical as he navigates life with his owner Jon Arbuckle and loyal dog Odie.
A New Voice for an Icon
Morris steps into the role of one of pop culture’s most recognizable animated characters. The actor is widely known for his work on New Girl and his Emmy-winning performance in Fargo. He will next appear in Prime Video’s Spider-Noir alongside Nicolas Cage and is currently filming Jumanji 4.
The new series is executive produced by Dave H. Johnson (Middlemost Post) and John Trabbic III (SpongeBob SquarePants, Middlemost Post), both of whom bring extensive experience in animated comedy.
A Project Years in the Making
The series has had a long road to the screen. Development began in 2019, when Viacom — now Paramount Global — acquired the Garfield intellectual property from Paws, Inc., the company founded by Jim Davis.
Along with developing new content, Paramount also assumed control of global merchandising rights, allowing the character to expand across apparel, toys, publishing, food products, and gaming. Garfield has since appeared in Nickelodeon crossover games such as Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl and Nickelodeon Kart Racers.
Garfield’s Legacy on Screen
The upcoming Paramount+ project will be the first Garfield animated television series since The Garfield Show, which premiered in 2009 and ran for five seasons on Cartoon Network and Boomerang in the United States.
Meanwhile, the character has remained active in film. Chris Pratt voiced Garfield in 2024’s The Garfield Movie, produced by Alcon Entertainment and Sony Pictures Animation, with a sequel currently in development.
Since its launch in 1978, Davis’ syndicated comic strip has grown into one of the most widely distributed comics in the world, reaching more than 200 million readers daily and maintaining a massive global fanbase.
Paramount+ Expands Its Animation Slate
The new series is part of Paramount+’s broader push into family and animated programming. The streamer has recently ordered The Elephant & Piggie Show! and The Pigeon Show!, based on Mo Willems’ beloved children’s books.
Nickelodeon Animation Studios is also behind upcoming projects including Avatar: Seven Havens and the animated feature The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender.
More than four decades after his debut, Garfield continues to prove that classic characters can evolve with new generations — and this latest animated series signals that the famously lazy cat still has plenty of life left on screen.