Ricky Gervais to play God in new TV series (Reuters)

NEW YORK (TheWrap) ? Ricky Gervais may not believe in God, but he's about to play Him.

The non-believing "Office" mastermind took to his blog Thursday to share some details about "Afterlife," the new show he's planning with "Dexter" producer Clyde Phillips. The comedy is about an atheist who dies and goes to heaven.

"Anyway," Gervais writes, "I play God..."

Not the typical, wise, benevolent God -- that's Morgan Freeman's thing, Gervais notes. His own version will be "an arrogant, wisecracking son of a bitch, who thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread. ... Actually he thinks he's the best thing ever because... well, he is. (He invented sliced bread by the way.)"

"He also loves welcoming atheists to heaven with a smug grin on his face."

Gervais adds that his God likes atheists, and "admires the fact that they were moral people even though they didn't believe they would ever be rewarded with everlasting life."

A couple of other things Gervais would like to clear up: the show isn't an "atheist comedy," as some news outlets have described it, because an "atheist comedy" wouldn't include a heaven or God.

Also, don't expect a "twisted bloodlusty anti-religious fest" just because of Phillips' grisly history with "Dexter."

"We've come up with this show because we think it will be fun, different and entertaining," Gervais says. "Not to undermine the moral fabric of America."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/tv/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110722/tv_nm/us_rickygervais

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