Stuff your job!
Ricky rejects role in Office USA
Ricky Gervais has revealed that he was offered the lead role in the American remake of The Office.
But he says he turned it down because he didn’t wantthe US version to be a carbon-copy of the BBC original.
“ I didn’t want to be that visibly involved because I think it should be made by Americans for Americans,” he said.
The NBC network also asked if he would direct some episodes – but instead took the backseat role of executive producer.
The show – renamed The Office: An American Workplace - will air at 9.30pm on Tuesday nights from March 22, it has just been announced. It will run for six half-hour episodes, following new episodes of hospital comedy Scrubs.
It stars Steve Carrell, most recently seen in the Jim Carrey movie Bruce Almighty, as the David Brent character, renamed Michael. King Of The Hill creator Greg Daniels has masterminded the remake .
Gervais said today: “ It’s great to be on the network that brought us Scrubs, The West Wing and ER.
“It seems such a long time since the Office was on in England. Just like the second world war, the Americans got involved three years late but have finished the job brilliantly.”
Published: 25 Jan 2005
