If there’s anyone in the world who could do cringe comedy, it’s Australia.
So, when you marry the Australian sense of humour with the awkward comedy of The Office, you may very well get a combustible mix of the ultimate stomach-twisting, ye-gods TV show.
That’s right. It’s true. Amazon Prime Video is making an Australian version of The Office, and it has the blessing of Ricky Gervais.
And in a twist, the David Brent/Michael Scott office manager will be a woman named Hannah Howard, to be played by Felicity Ward, an Australian comedian and actor who has appeared on Wakefield, The Inbetweeners, Spicks and Specks and Thank God You’re Here, as well as on the comedy circuit.
Supporting cast to make up the apathetic and slightly disgruntled staff of what is sure to be a mid-level, beige workplace include Shari Sebbens, Pallava Sharda, Firass Dirani, Lucy Schmidt, Steen Raskopoulos, Edith Poor and Josh Thomas.
The series will launch in 2024 and is the 13th adaptation of The Office. Yeah, there are way more versions of The Office than just the original UK and the US version. The Office has been remade in countries including India, Israel, Canada, Chile, France and Poland.
Gervais said in a statement: “I’m every excited about Australia remaking my little show from the turn of the century. Office politics have changed a bit in 20 years, so can’t wait to see how they navigate a modern-day David Brent.”
The Office Australia is due to start filming in Sydney in June as a co-production between BBC Studios, Bunya Entertainment and Amazon Studios and produced by Jackie van Beek and Kylie Washington.
Washington said: “The Office has connected with audiences around the world because everyone recognises their own David Brent, and now it’s Australia’s turn. We figured the world is ready for a loveable, flawed, lady boss, ruling over her packaging empire in The Office Australia.”
Gervais and Stephen Merchant launched The Office in 2001 and it remains one of the most beloved and acclaimed comedies of this century.
A US version starring Steve Carell ran for nine seasons and boosted the careers of John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fisher, BJ Novak, Mindy Kaling and Ed Helms.
The Office US continues to be one of the most rewatched shows on streaming. In 2020, Nielsen figures revealed the show clocked up 57 billion minutes on Netflix in America, by far the most engaged title on any major streaming platform in the territory.
In 2019, the NBCUniversal-owned US streaming service Peacock paid $US500 million for the exclusive American streaming rights for the show.
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