by Abhi Parasher
Prime Video, BBC Studios Australia and New Zealand, and Bunya Entertainment have announced The Office Australia, with its first-ever female lead in the iconic role, comedian Felicity Ward.
The Office Australia will exclusively launch in 2024 on Prime Video globally (excluding the U.S.).
In The Office Australia, Hannah Howard is the managing director of packaging company Flinley Craddick. When she gets news from Head Office that they will be shutting down her branch and making everyone work from home, she goes into survival mode, making promises that 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.
With its universal appeal and relatable office dilemmas, The Office has seen remakes in countries such as India, France and Poland. This Australian version will be its 13th adaptation. Whether Australia’s The Office will be a success is unknown – with some country’s adaptations only lasting one season and others, such as Poland, onto its third season – and you would get pretty good odds at the many online casino australia if you were to place a bet on its success.
Ricky Gervais, co-creator, co-writer, and star 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.”
Production on the eight-part Australian Amazon Original series will commence in Sydney in June, with filming to take place over eight weeks. In addition to Felicity Ward, The Office Australia stars Edith Poor, Steen Raskopoulos, Shari Sebbens, Josh Thomson, Jonny Brugh, Pallavi Sharda, Susan Ling Young, Raj Labade, Lucy Schmit, and Firass Dirani.
“It is an honour to continue the international comedy legacy of The Office locally while introducing new, quintessentially Australian characters. We can’t wait for audiences to meet Hannah Howard, the first female boss The Office format has explored,” said Sarah Christie, senior development executive Prime Video Australia.
The Office Australia is co-produced by BBC Studios ANZ, Bunya Entertainment, and Amazon Studios, executive produced by Julie De Fina (Aftertaste), Jackie van Beek (Nude Tuesday, What We Do in the Shadows, Wellington Paranormal), and Kylie Washington, with lead producers Sophia Zachariou (The Moth Effect), Linda Micsko (The Letdown), and Greer Simpkin (Mystery Road, In Limbo). Van Beek serves as lead set-up director with De Fina as head writer. Christiaan Van Vuuren (A Sunburnt Christmas) and Jesse Griffin will also direct on the series.
“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, production, BBC Studios ANZ. “We figured the world is ready for a lovable, flawed, lady boss, ruling over her packaging empire in The Office Australia.”
