Lamorne Morris and the Paramount+ inflection point for a new ‘Garfield’ era
lamorne morris is set to voice Garfield in a new original 2D-animated series ordered by Paramount+, marking a TV return for the iconic orange cat as the project moves forward in production.
What Happens When Lamorne Morris becomes the voice of Garfield on Paramount+?
Paramount+ has picked up a new original 2D-animated series tentatively titled Garfield, with lamorne morris voicing the character. The series is inspired by Jim Davis’ original comic strip and is being made by Nickelodeon Animation Studios.
The show is described as centering Garfield “at his finest, ” leaning into the character’s signature sarcasm and lackadaisical attitude. The pickup also ends what has been characterized as a lengthy path to the screen: development began after Nickelodeon’s then-parent Viacom acquired the Garfield IP from owners Paws in 2019 and announced plans to develop a new animated series. That multi-year trajectory included changes in corporate structure along the way, while the series itself is now in production.
What If the long development journey reshapes the series’ strategic role for Paramount+?
The new series arrives after years of buildup tied to IP ownership and portfolio planning. Under the IP agreement referenced in the project history, the Paramount predecessor Viacom also took over management of global merchandising rights. Since then, Garfield has been integrated into Paramount Products & Experiences across categories that include apparel, toys, publishing, food, pets, and more, and it has appeared in Nickelodeon game franchises such as All-Star Brawl and Kart Racers. In those games, the character was voiced by Frank Welker.
In that context, the Paramount+ pickup positions the new Garfield series as both a content play and a brand extension that aligns with a broader licensing and merchandising footprint already in place. The show is also framed as part of Paramount+’s recent flow of new series orders under a post Skydance-Paramount merger leadership structure led by Cindy Holland, Chair of Direct-to-Consumer at Paramount, and Jane Wiseman, Head of Originals at Paramount+.
What Happens Next for Garfield across TV and film as this series takes shape?
The new 2D-animated series is the first Garfield animated series since Paws’ 2009 The Garfield Show, which ran for five seasons in the U. S., with Frank Welker voicing the title character. Alongside the TV return, Garfield also exists as a separate feature franchise: Alcon/Sony’s 3D CGI animated film series includes The Garfield Movie, released in 2024, with Chris Pratt voicing Garfield, and plans for a sequel with Pratt reprising his role that were announced last year and are moving forward.
Garfield’s scale as a long-running property remains central to why a new series matters now. Since the comic strip launched in 1978, it has chronicled Garfield, his owner Jon Arbuckle, and Odie the dog, alongside various friends. The brand is described as counting over 200 million daily comic readers and millions of social media followers.
For Paramount+ specifically, Garfield joins other kids and family-oriented orders mentioned in the same slate, including the animated series The Elephant & Piggie Show! and The Pigeon Show! Starring the Pigeon from Mo Willems’ Hidden Pigeon Company. Nickelodeon Animation Studios also has an upcoming film, The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender, and the 2D series Avatar: Seven Havens, ordered by Nickelodeon a year ago, under the Avatar Studios banner.
With lamorne morris leading the vocal casting for Garfield, the new series is positioned as a major new entry in the franchise’s TV history while the broader Garfield ecosystem continues to expand across streaming, merchandising, and feature animation.
