Watch out Australia, the hit BBC comedy series The Office is touching down on local shores.
The series was originally created in the United Kingdom before it was recreated for an American version. Now, months after a long and unexplained delay occurred, production for The Office: Australia is set to begin in Sydney in June.
The Office is getting an Australian version.
(Image: Instagram)Casting has reportedly already been done, but as to who will be our Michael Scott or David Brent in the Australian version?
It is none other than comedian and actor Felicity Ward, the first ever female actress to star in the iconic role of a delusion manager of a paper company who is named Hannah Howard in the Aussie version.
Felicity has starred in Wakefield and The Inbetweeners 2.
Felicity Ward is the Oz Michael Scott!
(Image: Instagram)The Australian version, produced by Bunya Productions, is expected to be released on Prime Video and will be an eight-part series set to release in 2024.
The senior development executive of Prime Video Australia, Sarah Christie said: “We are thrilled to be bringing one of the biggest comedy franchises ever made to Prime Video customers in Australia and around the world.”
“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.”
Other cast members on The Office Australia include Edith Poor, Steen Raskopoulos, Shari Sebbens, Josh Thomson, Jonny Brugh, Pallavi Sharda, Susan Ling Young, Raj Labade, Lucy Schmit and Firass Dirani.
It is hard to predict the success rate of the Australian version given that both the American and UK versions had very different outcomes.
Despite being the original, the British version was released in 2001 and was only renewed for two seasons with only six episodes each.
Although it was successful enough to inspire the US series which has nine seasons, its more miserable tone was dropped as viewers favoured the more upbeat tone of the American series.
The American version propelled the careers of numerous actors including Steve Carrell, John Krasinski, Mindy Kaling, Rainn Wilson, Ellie Kemper and Ed Helms.
Watch this space for more updates on The Office: Australia.
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