Paramount+ has finalized a deal to produce a new 2D animated series based on the 1978 comic strip Garfield. Actor Lamorne Morris (Fargo, New Girl) is confirmed to provide the voice for the lead character. This production, managed by Nickelodeon Animation Studios, arrives after a stagnant seven-year development period.
The project operates under the working title Garfield and marks a return to traditional television pacing after several years of high-budget cinema experiments. The series aims to capture the "signature sarcasm" of the Jim Davis creation, though no release date has been secured.
The Dual-Cat Reality
While Morris takes the role for the streaming platform, the character remains fragmented across corporate interests. Chris Pratt, who voiced the feline in the 2024 theatrical film, is scheduled to return for a sequel managed by Alcon Entertainment and Sony Pictures.
Read More: Paramount+ orders new Garfield series with Lamorne Morris in 2024 to grow streaming viewers
"Garfield has over 200 million daily comic readers and millions of social media followers," according to Paramount+ metrics, highlighting the character's role as a reliable vehicle for merchandising rather than a new narrative frontier.
Production and Governance
The series will be steered by a heavy rotation of executive producers including John Trabbic III, Broderick Johnson, and Steven P. Wegner.
| Role | Talent | Previous Context |
|---|---|---|
| Voice Lead | Lamorne Morris | Won Emmy for Fargo; associated with feline co-star in New Girl. |
| Animation Style | 2D Traditional | A pivot away from the recent $60M CGI theatrical aesthetic. |
| Studio | Nickelodeon | Absorbed the IP into the Paramount Global portfolio. |
| Executive Producer | John Trabbic III | Tasked with maintaining the "chonky" visual brand. |
The show joins a clotted Paramount+ slate of children’s programming including adaptations of Mo Willems' work.
Production has been ongoing or stalled since 2019, reflecting a long gestation for a property with pre-existing global recognition.
Alcon Entertainment retains rights for theatrical versions, creating a split-media presence for the character.
Historical Resonance
The feline has undergone multiple voice shifts since Lorenzo Music defined the tone in the Garfield and Friends era (1988–1994). Bill Murray handled the early 2000s live-action/CGI hybrids, while Pratt’s recent version grossed $237 million despite a 36% critical rating on review aggregators.
The IP has grown into a sprawl of apparel, pet supplies, and food partnerships. The original comic, created by Jim Davis, continues to chronicle the stagnant domestic life of Jon Arbuckle and Odie, providing a static template that modern streamers find commercially safe in a volatile market.