An Australian version of the popular comedy franchise launched on 18 October, and it’s the first to have a female at the helm.
Comedian and actor Felicity Ward is taking on the role of Hannah Howard, 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 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.
The Office, which was created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant and first debuted in the UK in 2001, has had 13 iterations around the world.
Countries where the mockumentary-style show has been recreated include France, Canada, Chile, Israel, India, the Middle East, and Poland, where a third season has just been announced.
Aside from the original, the best-known version is the American adaptation which starred Steve Carell as boss Michael Scott.
Australia’s The Office features an ensemble of Australian and New Zealand comedy talent including Edith Poor, Steen Raskopoulos, Shari Sebbens, Josh Thomson, Jonny Brugh, Susan Ling Young, Raj Labade, Lucy Schmidt, Zoe Terakes, Pallavi Sharda and Claude Jabbour.
Susie Youssef, Justin Rosniiak, Carlo Ritchie, Rick Donald and Chris Bunton star in guest roles.
The Office was developed for Australia by writers Julie De Fina (Aftertaste) and Jackie van Beek (The Breaker Upperers, Nude Tuesday) with the pair also serving as executive producers.
All eight episodes of The Office are available on October 18 on Prime Video in 240 countries and territories worldwide (excluding the U.S.).
