Netflix is adding another adult animated comedy to its lineup. The streaming service announced Dad’s House, a new show from Michael Cusack, one of the creators behind the popular Adult Swim series Smiling Friends.
The announcement came on April 29, 2026. Cusack is working on this project with Dario Russo and David Ashby, known for the cult series Danger 5 and Italian Spiderman. The trio will serve as showrunners, executive producers, and voice actors on the series.
The Story Follows a Teenager and His Well-Meaning But Chaotic Father
Dad’s House takes place in a small suburban town in Australia. The main character is Sean, a 13-year-old boy whose parents are divorced. He visits his father Ian every other weekend.
The official logline describes Ian as a “laidback, but well meaning dad.” The problem is that Ian has a talent for making their limited time together much harder than it should be. The show will focus on their attempts to bond and the unexpected problems that come up along the way.
This marks a change from Cusack’s previous work. Smiling Friends was known for its random humor and short, disconnected episodes. Dad’s House seems to have a clearer story structure focused on family relationships.
The Creative Team Brings Experience from Popular Adult Animation
Michael Cusack has built a strong name in adult animation. Before Smiling Friends, he created YOLO, another Adult Swim series. Smiling Friends ran for three seasons and built a large fan base with its strange, funny take on a show about characters who bring happiness to people.
Dario Russo and David Ashby worked together on Danger 5, a surreal action-comedy series that earned a cult following. They also made Italian Spiderman, a parody film that became popular online.
The voice cast includes Felicity Ward, who appeared in the Australian version of The Office, Wakefield, and The Inbetweeners 2. Cusack, Russo, and Ashby will also provide voices for characters in the show.
The show is produced by Princess Pictures, a Melbourne-based studio, and Bento Box Entertainment, the Los Angeles studio behind Bob’s Burgers.
Why Smiling Friends Ended and What Comes Next
The news of Dad’s House comes shortly after Cusack and his co-creator Zach Hadel decided to end Smiling Friends after its third season. The final two episodes aired on April 12, 2026.
Cusack explained the decision openly. He said that after finishing the third season, both he and Hadel felt burnt out. They had put years of work into the series and felt satisfied with what they had made. They agreed that ending the show at season three felt right.
“To be perfectly honest, after we finished season three, 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. We just came to this feeling where we’re like, ‘I think that could just be it after season three.’ We both felt like it was right.” – Michael Cusack
The creators have not completely closed the door on returning to the world of Smiling Friends. They have said they would need a good story reason to revisit the show in the future.
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Release Date and Streaming Information
Netflix has not announced a specific release date for Dad’s House yet. The show was just ordered and is in development. Animation production takes time, including voice recording, storyboarding, and the actual animation work.
Industry reports suggest the series could arrive in late 2026 or 2027. Fans should wait for an official announcement from Netflix for the exact release date.
The show will stream exclusively on Netflix worldwide. When it releases, viewers in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, India, and other regions will be able to watch it on the platform.
Dad’s House joins a growing list of adult animated shows on Netflix. Other upcoming series include Mating Season, DANG!, Alley Cats, and Haunted Hotel season 2. The platform also renewed the animated series Long Story Short for a second season.
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