A female-led remake of NBC’s The Office is in the development process.
The remake of the cherished sitcom is being developed by Prime Video Australia and will star Felicity Ward as the lead, filling the shoes of Ricky Gervais’s David Brent and Steve Carell’s Michael Scott, according to a report.
Ward will portray Hannah Howard, the awkward head of her branch of the packaging company Flinley Craddick, the report noted, and the job gets difficult when an order from her head office directs everyone to work from home.
“I’m very excited about Australia remaking my little show from the turn of the century,” Gervais said. “Office politics have changed a bit in 20 years, so can’t wait to see how they navigate a modern-day David Brent.”
“We are thrilled to be bringing one of the biggest comedy franchises ever made to Prime Video customers in Australia and around the world,” Senior Development Executive Prime Video Australia Sarah Christie said.
“It is an honor 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.”
Reaction to a female-led remake of the beloved show has been mixed on social media.
“But why?” one Twitter user commented. “The Office doesn’t need a remake.”
“I guess people seem to forget that the US version of The Office is a remake … this surely shows that MEN hate on anything led [by] women,” another user tweeted.
I guess people seem to forget that the US version of The Office is a remake…this surely shows that MEN hate on anything led bye women. So sad…I will be sat for this. https://t.co/bLrsI9YjVt
— Jalyn Sanderson (@JalynSanderson) May 31, 2023
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“The appeal of the Office, if any, is that it makes fun of just how petty, shallow, and incompetent Michael Scott or David Brent are,” said another tweet.
The appeal of the Office, if any, is that it makes fun of just how petty, shallow, and incompetent Michael Scott or David Brent are. I have a hard time believing they’d make a show that spent a large amount of time making fun of a Woman in Management. https://t.co/pFxtSFZec6
— Gary (@plzbepatient) May 31, 2023
“I have a hard time believing they’d make a show that spent a large amount of time making fun of a Woman in Management.”