“The Office Australia” Gets a Female-Led Twist with Comedian Felicity Ward as the Lead
“The Office,” a popular comedy franchise, is set to receive an Australian adaptation with a female lead, marking the first time middle management will be portrayed by a woman. The series will be available on Amazon’s Prime Video.
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Felicity Ward, an Australian comedian and actor known for her roles in “Wakefield” and “The Inbetweeners 2,” will take on the role of Hannah Howard, the Managing Director of Flinley Craddick, a packaging company, in “The Office Australia.” The storyline takes an interesting turn in a post-COVID world when Hannah receives news from the head office that her branch will be shutting down, forcing the staff to work from home. In an attempt to keep her “work family” together, Hannah goes into survival mode, making unrealistic promises and launching outlandish plots.
This Australian adaptation is the 13th version of the show originally created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. The franchise has been adapted in various countries, including France, Canada, Chile, Israel, and the Middle East.
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Production for the eight-part series is set to begin in Sydney in June. The collaboration involves Prime Video, BBC Studios Australia and New Zealand, and Bunya Entertainment. “The Office Australia” will be labeled as an Amazon Original and is scheduled to launch on Prime Video worldwide (excluding the U.S.) in 2024.
Alongside Felicity Ward, the cast of “The Office Australia” includes Edith Poor, Steen Raskopoulos, Shari Sebbens, Josh Thomson, Jonny Brugh, Pallavi Sharda, Susan Ling Young, Raj Labade, Lucy Schmit, and Firass Dirani.
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Ricky Gervais, the co-creator, co-writer, and star of the original U.K. version, expressed his excitement about the Australian adaptation. He looks forward to seeing how the show addresses the changes in office dynamics that have occurred over the past two decades and navigates the challenges of portraying a modern-day David Brent.
“The Office Australia” promises to bring a fresh perspective to the beloved franchise, offering audiences a new and engaging workplace comedy led by Felicity Ward’s comedic talent and the creative team’s innovative storytelling.