Netflix orders ‘Dad’s House,’ a new adult animated comedy from the co-creator of ‘Smiling Friends’
Michael Cusack heads to Netflix with an Australian suburban comedy about a well-meaning dad who has a remarkable talent for making everything harder than it needs to be.
TL;DR
- Netflix has officially ordered Dad’s House, a new adult animated comedy set in suburban Australia.
- Michael Cusack — co-creator of Adult Swim’s Smiling Friends — leads the project alongside Dario Russo and David Ashby.
- British-Australian actress Felicity Ward, known to UK audiences from The Inbetweeners 2, joins the voice cast.
- No release date has been confirmed yet; Netflix lists the series as “Coming Soon.”
Netflix has greenlit Dad’s House, a new adult animated comedy from Australian creator Michael Cusack, co-creator of Adult Swim’s Smiling Friends, alongside Danger 5 writers Dario Russo and David Ashby, announced on 29 April 2026.
What is ‘Dad’s House’ about?
The series is set in small-town suburban Australia and centres on Sean, a 13-year-old navigating the realities of his parents’ divorce. Every second weekend, he stays with his father, Ian — a laid-back, well-meaning dad who has a gift for making simple quality time spectacularly complicated.
According to the Variety announcement, the official logline reads: “Cramming quality dad-time into a single weekend is already a tall order — but Ian has a remarkable gift for making it so much harder than it needs to be.”
First-look image from Dad’s House. Credit: Netflix / Princess Pictures.
The premise taps into universal tensions around split custody, parenting failures, and the comedy of good intentions gone wrong — ground that adult animation has rarely explored with this level of specificity.
Who is behind the show?
Cusack, Russo, and Ashby serve as showrunners and executive producers, and all three are also part of the voice cast. Cusack is best known internationally as the co-creator, alongside Zach Hadel, of Adult Swim’s cult comedy Smiling Friends. He also created YOLO, another Australian animated series that aired three seasons on the same network.
Russo and Ashby bring their own well-established credentials. Both served as creators and writers on the surreal SBS comedy Danger 5, and Russo directed Italian Spiderman — a cult favourite in Australian comedy circles.
Joining the voice cast is comedian Felicity Ward, Co-creator and Showrunner, known to UK audiences for her role in The Inbetweeners 2 (2014), as well as the Australian adaptation of The Office and the drama series Wakefield. Ward’s casting gives the show a strong UK connection, and her involvement is likely to draw attention from British Netflix subscribers.
The ‘Smiling Friends’ context
The announcement arrives just weeks after the final two episodes of Smiling Friends aired on 12 April 2026, closing out a show that had been renewed for two further seasons before its creators chose to walk away.
In February 2026, Cusack and Hadel announced via Adult Swim’s social channels that the series would not continue. According to Wikipedia’s verified production record, they cited creative burnout and a belief that the show had reached a natural conclusion, despite the network’s willingness to carry it forward.
“After we finished Season 3, Zach and I just both had the same feeling where we felt pretty burnt out after putting years and years into this, but also pretty accomplished,” Cusack said in the announcement video.
Dad’s House suggests Cusack is far from finished — he’s simply moved platforms and shifted creative territory. The Netflix order represents a significant step up in global distribution for an animator who built his following through Newgrounds, YouTube, and Adult Swim.
Who is producing ‘Dad’s House’?
Animation and production duties fall to two studios with strong track records in the genre. Melbourne-based Princess Pictures has previously worked on Smiling Friends, Koala Man, and Hazbin Hotel. Their Los Angeles co-producer is Bento Box Entertainment, the studio behind Bob’s Burgers, Central Park, and Grimsburg.
That combination of a homegrown Australian production outfit and a major US animation studio reflects Netflix’s increased investment in creator-driven adult animation — a slate that also includes upcoming titles such as Mating Season, Dang!, Alley Cats, and a second season of Haunted Hotel, according to What’s on Netflix.
UK angle: release, streaming, and talent
No UK release date has been confirmed. When it arrives, British subscribers will be able to watch Dad’s House on Netflix, which is available from £4.99 per month (Standard with Ads plan as of May 2026). The show has not yet received a BBFC classification, though comparable adult animated titles typically carry a 15 or 18 certificate on the platform.
For UK audiences, Felicity Ward is the clearest entry point. Australian-born but with a long-established British following, she appeared in the British comedy film The Inbetweeners 2 alongside the original cast and has performed stand-up at the Edinburgh Fringe. Her involvement should help Dad’s House cut through in a market that already responded warmly to Australian animation via Smiling Friends.
When does ‘Dad’s House’ come out?
Netflix has not confirmed a premiere date. The streamer is currently listing the show as “Coming Soon.” Given that production is still ongoing, a 2027 release window appears most likely, though no official timeline has been shared.
Screen & Story will update this article as further details — including a trailer, episode count, and UK premiere date — are confirmed.
Reported from publicly available interviews and verified press sources. Last reviewed 1 May 2026.
Elena Vane is an award-winning comics historian and pop culture journalist. Specializing in the DC/Marvel universes and independent graphic novels, Elena has been documenting the rise of cosplay culture for over a decade . She is a frequent panelist at New York Comic Con and provides in-depth biographies of industry pioneers. Elena’s expertise ensures that every comic-related update is factually grounded and community-focused .
