Gervais plans appearance in US Office

David Brent is set to appear in the US version of The Office, Ricky Gervais has hinted.

He fuelled rumours that Brent will run into his US counterpart Michael Scott by talking about how the episode could unfold.

In an interview with The Sun today, he said: ‘I think it would be funny for David Brent to walk into the US Office and hear them go, “Oh my God, there's two of them!”

‘We don't need to know about Brent's back story… Michael Scott could just bump into Brent who is a bloke from England.’

Gervais added that Brent is likely to be the only character from the British version making his way to Scranton, New Jersey, otherwise it would be ‘just too complicated’.

Gervais also dismissed speculation Julie Andrews is to voice a lead character in the big-screen adaptation of his Flanimals children’s books.

He said: ‘Julie Andrews isn't involved – that's a myth. I don't know where that came from. I’m certainly looking at the big boys for this. I would like to pitch to people like Ben Stiller and Jack Black, really good comic performers.’

And, as he launched his new film Cemetery Junction, he said that he had grown accustomed to bad reviews as a defining part of his career.

He said: ‘Every time I read a negative review now I think it's great because being hated as much as you are loved is what makes careers. Nobody ever got anywhere by everyone liking them. Yes, you become a national treasure, but you didn't do anything.’

Published: 1 Feb 2010