South Africa to remake The Office

14th international version of the Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant comedy

The Office is being remade in South Africa, primarily in Afrikaans.

Production on the show – which will be the 14th international remake of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s show – is due to get under way next year.

It is being made by Rapid Blue, a South African production company that is part of the BBC Studios’ global network and will be abailable on the Showmax and kykNET channels.

Rapid Blue managing director Ziyanda Ngcaba said: 'We are proud to be producing the first African version of The Office. The format is globally recognised and adored by audiences all over the world."

The US version of The Office starring Steve Carrel is already a hit on Showmax, whose acting head of content, Nicola van Niekerk called the UK original ‘the most iconic mockumentary of them all’.

It has previously announced that the Australian version of The Office - the first to feature a female boss – will premiere exclusively on Amazon’s Prime Video on October 18.

Felicity_Ward in The Office

Felicity Ward plays Hannah Howard, managing director of packaging company Flinley Craddick, in the eight episodes, heading a cast that also includes Steen Raskopoulos Shari Sebbens, Josh Thomson, Jonny Brugh, Susan Ling Young, Raj Labade, Lucy Schmidt, Zoe Terakes, Pallavi Sharda and Claude Jabbour.

Casting for the South African version has not yet been announced.

Other countries to have remade The Office include France, Canada, Chile, Israel, India, the Middle East and Poland, where a third season has recently been confirmed.

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Published: 30 Aug 2024