The new version of ‘The Office’ is here (and it’s already awkward)

It’s hard to top an icon like Michael Scott, but a new version of The Office is here, and it’s ready to give it a try. Eleven years after the original wrapped up, fans of the beloved workplace comedy are being treated to The Office Australia, coming soon to Prime Video.

Familiar, Yet Different

For anyone who’s followed the original The Office, which dominated TV screens from 2005 to 2013, this new Australian take feels both familiar and refreshingly different. The U.S. version, itself an adaptation of the British series created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, has been a streaming favorite in recent years. It’s still one of the most-watched shows on platforms like Netflix and Prime Video. In fact, The Office was the most-streamed show in 2020, amassing a whopping 952 million hours of viewing, according to data from Nielsen.

But now, The Office Australia steps into the spotlight, with Felicity Ward taking on the role of a female version of the bumbling, well-meaning boss. Though she shines in the trailer, it’s clear this series has big shoes to fill. Fans will undoubtedly compare it to the original, with its timeless awkward humor and iconic moments.

The Awkwardness Returns

Judging by the sneak peek, The Office Australia promises plenty of the classic discomfort that made the original so beloved. Awkward silences? Check. Shifty glances and painfully long pauses? Absolutely. The office setting is instantly recognizable, and Edith Poor’s character appears to be channeling a more manic version of Dwight Schrute, adding some early promise. However, some plot points remain under wraps, leaving viewers curious about how closely this new take will follow its predecessors.

One interesting twist teased in the trailer is a hilariously offbeat conversation between Felicity Ward’s character and Edith Poor’s about sisterhood. The show, arriving in 2024, has the chance to introduce new societal questions that feel relevant today—something the original didn’t tackle as directly.

Not the First Remake

The Office Australia isn’t the first international adaptation of the hit series. A French version, Le Bureau, aired back in 2006, with François Berléand stepping into the main role. And of course, the American version is based on the original British show. There’s even been an Israeli adaptation, HaMisrad, which aired from 2010 to 2013.

Still, despite these many iterations, The Office has always had a way of connecting with audiences, no matter where it’s set. The awkwardness, the mundane office life, and the bizarrely relatable characters transcend borders.

What to Expect

With its October 18, 2024, debut on Prime Video, The Office Australia will give fans a chance to see how the magic of Dunder Mifflin translates down under. Will it follow the formula too closely, or will it take creative liberties? Either way, it’s sure to spark conversation among fans old and new.

In the meantime, if you can’t wait, the entire U.S. version of The Office is available on Prime Video, ready for a rewatch while you wait for Australia’s take on the world’s most awkward office.