The first look at Australia’s take on the hit series The Office has made quite the splash online — but it was not the reaction producers were likely expecting.
Unveiled on Wednesday, this local adaptation of the beloved franchise— created by and starring Ricky Gervais and first appearing on UK television in 2001 before it was remade for US TV and other international markets —has drawn a flurry of critical responses online.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: First look at The Office Australia.
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Comments on the trailer posted to YouTube have been overwhelmingly harsh, with viewers labelling the preview “awful”, “dreadful”, and a “trainwreck”.
“Dear Prime It’s not too late to delete this,” the top comment reads with more than 1900 thumbs up reactions.
Behind that with 1700 likes reads: “I have been confined to a wheelchair for the past 20 years, today I stood up and walked just to turn this off.”
Others compared the trailer to the viral performance by Australian breakdancer Raygun during the Olympics, writing, “So this is The Office Raygun”.
However not all reactions were so critical. On Prime Video Australia’s Instagram page, some excited fans praised the cast and vibe of the trailer.
“Felicity Ward is the absolute perfect choice for this role. The trailer looks great,” one said.
“OMG I JUST CANNOT WAIT!” a second said as another said it was “perfect casting”.
The series stars Sydney comedian Felicity Ward as Hannah Howard, the managing director of the fictional Sydney-based packaging company Flinley Craddick.
At 43, Ward is the first woman to lead the franchise in its 23-year history, which chronicles the often-awkward dynamics of an office environment filled with quirky characters.
To be fair, pleasing diehard fans of the beloved franchise is a tall order.
Following the UK’s successful two-season run, the American adaptation launched in 2005, featuring Steve Carell as the “World’s Best Boss” Michael Scott.
That version achieved cult status and managed to expand its viewership significantly in its later seasons.
Both the UK and US iterations are cherished not just for their humour, but also for their heartwarming storylines, showcasing slow-burning romances between characters such as Tim and Dawn (Martin Freeman and Lucy Davis), and Jim and Pam (John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer).
The Australian series will focus on Hannah’s well-meaning yet chaotic efforts to keep her “work family” intact after learning that head office plans to shut down her branch in favour of a work-from-home policy.
Her employees must navigate her outlandish strategies as they strive to meet seemingly impossible targets.
The Office is set to premiere on Prime Video on October 18 with all eight episodes available at launch, and viewers will then get a chance to see how this new iteration shapes up amid the backlash.