Ricky Gervais is Excited Over the Remake of The Office in Australia
The hit British sitcom, The Office, created by Ricky Gervais and starring him, is set to receive a new Australian remake, this time with a female lead character.
The show revolves around the daily lives of employees at a paper company and has already been adapted in 12 countries, including the US, India, and France. The upcoming Australian version, which will be streamed on Prime Video, will be the first to feature a female boss in the role of David Brent, the clueless and cringeworthy manager.
Ricky Gervais, who portrayed Brent in the original UK series that aired from 2001 to 2003, expressed his excitement about seeing his “little show from the turn of the century” being remade in Australia.
“Office politics have evolved over the past 20 years. I’m eager to see how they navigate a modern-day David Brent,” he commented.
The role of the Australian Brent will be played by comedian Felicity Ward, known for her appearances in shows such as The Inbetweeners 2 and The Letdown. She will lead a diverse cast of actors portraying the staff of Wilkins Paper Company in Sydney.
The show’s producer, Sophia Zachariou, expressed her admiration for the original series and its mockumentary style. She hopes that the Australian version will capture the same level of humor and authenticity as its predecessors.
“The Office UK made the mockumentary format accessible to a wide audience, and that was its brilliance. I can only hope that global viewers will find our Aussie take on The Office equally funny, self-deprecating, and relatable,” she said.
The Australian remake will be set in the post-Covid era and will consist of eight episodes. Production is scheduled to commence this month in Sydney.
