'After Life' Will Return for a Third Season on Netflix

It's official: Ricky Gervais' bleak but strangely heartwarming comedy After Life, which just returned for its second season on Netflix last month, has already been renewed for a third.

The news comes as part of an annoucement that Gervais has also been signed to a larger, multi-year overall deal at the streamer, which will see him produce both scripted series and stand-up comedy.

After Life follows the story of Tony, a writer for the local newspaper in the small fictional town of Tambury, whose life collapses following his wife's death from breast cancer. Bitter and depressed, he attemps to push everyone away with his increasingly caustic and rude behavior, but thanks to a variety of charming and memorable supporting characters, including a kind nurse and a friendly widow, he slowly finds his way back to something like life again.

The series also stars Derek's Kerry Godliman, alongside Downton Abbey alum Penelope Wilton, Extras' Ashley Jensen and Vera's Paul Kaye.

Gervais himself announced the renewal news on Twitter.