The Office remake star Felicity Ward explains how her version of the series is different from the American and British versions. Ward plays Hannah Howard in the Australian version of The Office, which was released on Prime Video in Australia and multiple other nations today. In addition to Ward, the cast includes Edith Poor, Steen Raskopoulos, Shari Sebbens, Jonny Brugh, Josh Thomson, Raj Labade, and Susan Lin Young. It does not yet have a release date for the Prime Video launch in the United States.
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Ward spoke about how Australia’s The Office compares with previous iterations. She said that “Hannah is more similar to Michael Scott” than David Brent when comparing the UK and US versions. She also mentioned that “the show itself has more space,” comparing it to the British iteration having “lots of scenes of photocopiers.” In terms of the comedic style, she says that “the humor is very, very Australian, but not in an alienating way.” Check out the full quote from Ward below:
I think she is actually quite likable. She’s quite funny. And even though she’s an idiot, it’s very interesting. I think that Hannah is more similar to Michael Scott if you’re going to compare the two. But I feel like the show itself has more space. The British one has lots of scenes of photocopiers, and there’s a lot of the boredom that’s captured to give that sense of mundanity to the audience. I feel like we have lots of that in the show, too. [I don’t know] how much of a conscious choice that was by, you know, the directors and editors and stuff like that. But when I watched it back, that’s what it felt like to me. And then I think that the humor is very, very Australian, but not in an alienating way.
What Ward’s Comparison Means For The Australian Office
The Office 2024 Has A New Energy
Even before Ward’s quote, the trailers for the Australian The Office already revealed some differences between the two most popular versions and the iteration from down under. First, Hannah Howard is a female boss, who makes for a different lead than male bosses like David Brent. This is not a mere gender swap, but a chance to change the dynamic, as it creates a newfound “girlboss” energy that the previous shows did not have.
Ward’s quote provides further context for how exactly 2024’s The Office draws these distinctions. The Australian series is not new material, as it draws upon many of the same character archetypes as the first two shows. However, it is interesting to hear how The Office remake does not just take one inspiration, but multiple. Its protagonist borrows from Michael Scott, while the pacing and comedic timing may bend towards the UK version.
Felicity Ward’s Description Is Promising
The Australian Humor Will Provide A New Tone
Both the UK and US versions of The Office are iconic in their own ways, making it tough for the Australian version to live up to expectations. Still, I am hopeful about this remake from Ward’s description. The uniquely Australian humor alone will create an entirely different tone for this new version. When this version becomes available domestically, I’m excited to see what Australia has to offer in its interpretation of The Office.
