Stand-up comedian Mo Gilligan, Sex Education's Simone Ashley and Derry Girls star Dylan Llewellyn are amongst the voice cast for new animated family comedy 10 Lives.

Due in cinemas in 2023, the film follows the adventures of a pampered and selfish cat who takes for granted the lives he has been dealt. After carelessly losing his ninth life he begs to be given a second chance, an opportunity to show he can learn from his mistakes. Eventually his wish is granted, but with certain stipulations...

Mo Gilligan will voice Beckett, the pampered feline at the heart of the film. With a taste for fine food and lazy days, the cat doesn't know what's about to hit him when he begs for a new set of lives.

Simone Ashley, who plays Olivia in Sex Education, takes on the role of Rose, a dedicated and passionate research student intent on saving the world's bee population. Living a studious and happy life in the English countryside, Rose's heart is stolen when she unexpectedly finds herself adopting a small, defenceless kitten who she calls Beckett ('beehive' in old English). The pair soon settle down to a life of reciprocal comfort and she is heartbroken when one day he disappears, seemingly into thin air.

Sophie Okonedo (Susannah in Wild Rose) will portray Grace, an ethereal yet no-nonsense woman with the power to grant Beckett his new set of lives.

One Direction star Zayn Malik has been cast as two characters, Kirk and Cameron, twin brothers who like to think they are as tough as they come but who deep down want nothing more than to please their mum.

Meanwhile Dylan Llewellyn takes on the role of Larry, Rose's socially uncomfortable lab partner.

The animation is in production now, directed by Christopher Jenkins.