Attention, attention! The Office fans, get excited because an Australian reboot is in the works! This time, it’s featuring a female lead, and we can’t wait to see how she navigates the office politics.
Move over Michael Scott – the new boss in town is named Hannah Howard. Played by Australian comedian Felicity Ward, Hannah is the managing director of a packaging company called Flinley Craddick. The series will follow her as she goes into "survival mode" after the company's head office shuts down her branch, forcing everyone to work from home. While the original UK version of The Office gave us the insufferable middle-manager David Brent, and the US version brought us the iconic Michael Scott, we’re excited to see what Hannah brings to the table. The Australian adaptation will be the 13th version of The Office worldwide, but the first to feature a woman as the lead. Felicity Ward is no stranger to the Australian comedy scene, having made appearances on various comedy programs and game shows. She’s also starred in TV mini-series Wakefield and the film The Inbetweeners 2. With her talent and experience, we have no doubt that she’ll bring her own unique flavor to the role of Hannah.
Co-produced by BBC Studios Australia and New Zealand, Bunya Entertainment, and Amazon Studios, the eight-part series will begin production in June and is set to air in 240 countries in 2024. We’re looking forward to seeing how the show tackles modern-day office politics and how Hannah will navigate the challenges that come with being a lady boss ruling over her packaging empire. The Office co-creator, Ricky Gervais, expressed his excitement about the Australian version, saying “Office politics have changed a bit in 20 years, so can’t wait to see how they navigate a modern-day David Brent.” With the show’s success in multiple countries, BBC Studios ANZ general manager and creative production director Kylie Washington said it’s now “Australia’s turn” to make their mark with a female-led reboot.
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With so many adaptations of The Office worldwide, we’re excited to see how the Australian version adds its own spin to this beloved show. So mark your calendars for 2024, because it's time to return to the office!
