Australia will soon have its own version of The Office, with a new adaptation being made – this time with a twist: a woman is in charge.
Australian actor Felicity Ward has been cast as the show’s lead, based on Ricky Jervais’ insufferable middle manager character David Brent in the original U.K. version, and Michael Scott as reinvented by Steve Carell in the U.S version.
Set to run on Amazon Video in 2024, the Australian version is co-produced by Amazon Studios, BBC Studios ANZ and Bunya Entertainment. It’s due to start filming in Sydney in June.
It will be the 13th adaptation of the show since it first launched in the U.K in 2001. Other countries to produce adaptations include Chile, France, Finland, India, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Germany.
The U.S version of The Office, which launched the careers of many household names including John Krasinkski, Rainn Wilson, Mindy Kaling and BJ Novak, continues to be one of the most streamed shows worldwide.
In the Australian version, Felicity Ward will play Hannah Howard, the manager of a packaging company Flinley Craddick.
According to Prime Video, when Hannah Howard gets news from the head office that they are shutting down her branch, and will make staff work from home, “she goes into survival mode” and makes “promises she can’t keep in order to keep her ‘work family’ together”.
“The staff of Flinley Craddick indulge her and must endure Hannah’s outlandish plots as they work toward the impossible targets that have been set for them,” Prime Video said.
Ricky Gervais, co-creator and star of the original version of The Office, said: “I’m very 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 rest of the cast includes Edith Poor, Steen Raskopoulos, Shari Sebbens, Josh Thomson, Jonny Brugh, Pallavi Sharda, Susan Ling Young, Raj Labade, Lucy Schmit, and Firass Dirani.
“The Office has connected with audiences around the world because everyone recognises their own David Brent, and now it’s Australia’s turn,” said Kylie Washington, general manager and creative director of production at BBC Studios ANZ.
“We figured the world is ready for a lovable, flawed, lady boss, ruling over her packaging empire in The Office Australia. This is the first scripted project from BBC Studios ANZ, and I’m excited to partner with Bunya Entertainment and Prime Video to reimagine such an iconic show with some very Aussie characters.”