Discover Australia’s take on The Office. Felicity Ward leads the cast in this new adaptation, launching on Prime Video worldwide on October 18.
The highly-anticipated Australian version of The Office is set to make its debut globally on Prime Video (excluding the US) on October 18.
Featuring a fresh take on the popular mockumentary format, this edition introduces Felicity Ward as the bumbling and out-of-touch office boss, Hannah Howard, marking the first time the lead role has been played by a woman in the franchise’s two-decade history.
Set at Sydney’s fictional packaging company Flinley Craddick, the eight-part series promises a distinctly Australian twist on the awkward humour that has made the show a global phenomenon. Prime Video subscribers in 240 countries will be able to stream all eight episodes as part of their membership.
This marks the thirteenth adaptation of the acclaimed franchise, which originated in the UK with Ricky Gervais as the unforgettable David Brent. Australia joins a list of countries that have successfully remade the series, including France, Israel, India, and South Africa.
In this new iteration, the show focuses on the quirky employees at Flinley Craddick, who must navigate the whims of their hapless boss, Howard, as she scrambles to prevent the closure of their branch.
The show’s plot centres around Howard’s misguided efforts to keep her “work family” intact after learning that Head Office plans to shut down her branch and shift operations to remote work. In a bid to save her team, Howard makes grandiose promises, setting up her employees for both professional and personal chaos as they attempt to meet unachievable targets.
Sarah Christie, Head of Australian Originals at Amazon MGM Studios, expressed excitement about the upcoming release:
“We are so excited for you to meet Hannah Howard, brought to life by the exceptionally talented Felicity Ward. Office life has changed a lot in the last few years, and we can’t wait to share our very own Aussie spin on a beloved franchise with Prime Video customers around the world.”
The Australian cast includes Edith Poor as Lizzie Moyle, a multi-tasking receptionist; Steen Raskopoulos as sales rep Nick Fletcher; Shari Sebbens as Greta King, also in sales; and Josh Thomson as HR manager Martin Katavake. The ensemble also features Jonny Brugh, Susan Ling Young, Raj Labade, Lucy Schmidt, and Zoe Terakes, alongside notable guest appearances from Susie Youssef, Justin Rosniak, and Rick Donald.
Felicity Ward expressed her enthusiasm for the role, stating:
“I’ve never been so excited to play an optimistic incompetent trapped in her own delulu. Hannah Howard is every bit the disappointment of a boss we’d all hope she’d be.”
The show’s development was spearheaded by Julie De Fina and Jackie van Beek, who serve as both writers and executive producers. They expressed their hopes that audiences would embrace the new version with the same enthusiasm:
“We hope that audiences love watching the thirteenth version of The Office as much as we loved making it.”
Kylie Washington, General Manager at BBC Studios Australia & New Zealand, described the adaptation as timely:
“Office environments have changed so much, so we felt like it was perfect timing to investigate what the office means to us… Having our first female boss wasn’t just about a gender flip, it’s about looking at the whole workplace through the lens of a female boss.”
The show is produced in partnership with BBC Studios Australia & New Zealand, Bunya Entertainment, and Amazon MGM Studios. Sophia Zachariou, producer and co-managing director at Bunya Entertainment, commented on the long-standing appeal of the format:
“The mockumentary format is such a brilliant genre to investigate the human psyche, and the original UK version of The Office blew my mind when I first watched it over 20 years ago.”
In a media landscape that continues to evolve, the physical office remains a fertile ground for comedy, offering relatable characters, awkward interactions, and universal themes. With the continued success of the franchise in new territories, the Australian version is poised to resonate with fans of the original series while offering a fresh take on the familiar workplace dilemmas.
looks shit the promo. shit actors & script not even 1 season its axed
Unfortunately, it looks that way. Instead of trying to promote the series by trying to show it is funny, just take a look at THE OFFICE US and do the copy and paste. WE ALL WILL LOVE IT. Not some sort of series that doesn’t be funny but is trying to look like it is a fun one.