How to Get to Heaven from Belfast: Derry Girls Creator Lisa McGee Brings a New Comedy-Thriller to Netflix

Netflix has officially unveiled the trailer and release date for How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, a brand-new comedy-drama series from Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee. The eight-episode series will premiere February 12, exclusively on Netflix.

Blending dark humor, mystery, and Irish charm, the show promises what McGee herself calls “deadly craic” — with secrets, suspense, and friendship at its core.

A New Series From the Derry Girls Creative Team

Netflix confirms that How to Get to Heaven from Belfast reunites much of the creative team behind Derry Girls, marking McGee’s most ambitious project since the global hit comedy ended.

Described as a comedy-thriller, the series combines two genres McGee says she has “always wanted to mash together.” The result is a show designed to keep audiences laughing while constantly second-guessing what really happened — and who can be trusted.

What Is How to Get to Heaven from Belfast About?

The series follows three lifelong friends now in their late 30s:

• Saoirse — a sharp, chaotic TV writer

• Robyn — a glamorous but overwhelmed mother of three

• Dara — a dependable, emotionally guarded carer

When an email arrives revealing the suspicious death of a fourth childhood friend, the trio reunites under grim circumstances. What begins as a funeral quickly unravels into something far stranger.

Eerie events at the wake trigger a chain reaction that sends the friends on a dark, dangerous, and often hilarious journey across Ireland and beyond. As they dig into the mystery surrounding their friend’s death, they are forced to confront long-buried secrets — including one they share themselves.

The series explores friendship, memory, guilt, and the unsettling realization that adulthood doesn’t always turn out as planned.

Trailer Teases Mystery, Mayhem, and “Deadly Craic”

The newly released trailer sets the tone immediately: sharp dialogue, escalating tension, and humor that cuts through the darkness. Fans of Derry Girls will recognize McGee’s signature rhythm — fast, funny, and emotionally grounded — but with far higher stakes.

The trailer also features a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo that longtime fans will appreciate, reinforcing the creative lineage between the two shows.

Cast Brings Depth and Chemistry

Netflix has assembled a strong ensemble led by three standout performances:

• Roísín Gallagher as Saoirse

• Sinéad Keenan as Robyn

• Caoilfhionn Dunne as Dara

They are joined by a notable supporting cast including Tom Basden, Art Campion, Michelle Fairley, Josh Finan, Bronagh Gallagher, Ardal O’Hanlon, Natasha O’Keeffe, and Emmett J. Scanlan.

McGee has praised the cast’s chemistry, timing, and emotional range, calling them essential to balancing the show’s humor with its darker themes.

A Netflix Series Built on Secrets and Suspicion

Unlike traditional mystery dramas, How to Get to Heaven from Belfast doesn’t focus solely on uncovering the truth — it focuses on what the truth costs.

As danger intensifies, trust fractures. The series leans heavily into moral ambiguity, exploring how far people will go to protect themselves — and each other — when the past refuses to stay buried.

As McGee puts it: “A good friend keeps your secrets, but a great friend helps you bury them.”

Release Details at a Glance

• Title: How to Get to Heaven from Belfast

• Genre: Comedy-Drama / Mystery-Thriller

• Creator: Lisa McGee

• Episodes: 8

• Streaming Platform: Netflix

• Release Date: February 12

Why This Series Is One to Watch

With Derry Girls, Lisa McGee proved she could turn regional stories into global hits. How to Get to Heaven from Belfast looks ready to do the same — but with sharper edges, higher stakes, and a mystery that keeps audiences guessing until the very end.

For viewers who enjoy dark comedy, character-driven mysteries, and emotionally grounded storytelling, this Netflix original is shaping up to be one of February’s most intriguing releases.