Fans React Negative to The Office Australian Remake Trailer: “Looks Like a Bad Fan-Made Parody”

The announcement of the Australian remake of The Office generated considerable buzz, largely due to the show’s success in both the United States and the United Kingdom. However, the initial trailer for this Australian adaptation received mixed reactions from fans, who largely took issue with the cast, the humor, and the overall execution of the series.

The first trailer features Felicity Ward portraying Hannah Howard, the Australian equivalent of Steve Carell’s Michael Scott. Unfortunately for fans, the trailer lacked the comedic punch they were hoping for, leading some to describe it as a subpar parody. X user @iamthedevilsec commented:

“This looks like a bad fan-made parody wtf lol.”

Other fans echoed similar sentiments, critiquing the new adaptation for failing to capture the essence of the original The Office or even the US version. They voiced their disappointment over the apparent lack of originality in the trailer.

“A female Michael Scott and plucky ensemble cast? Yeah…they already did this. It’s called Parks and Rec. Grow up, get good, and make new content. (If you can*) *they cannot.”- another fan wrote.

“This looks terrible.”- another fan added.

“This is the worst piece of media that has been released in the past 100+ years of content.”- yet another fan commented.

“This looks worse than anyone possibly imagined. Australian comedy will be set back decades because of this. Shame on all involved.”- Another fan provided insight into the potential backlash the show is likely to encounter.

Set to premiere on October 18, 2024, opinions about the series may evolve by then, though skepticism looms heavily at this moment.

What is The Office Australia about?

The Australian version of The Office aims to replicate the style and premise of both the US and UK variations, which were both critically acclaimed and commercially successful during their runs.

This adaptation introduces a female boss in the form of Hannah Howard instead of the original characters Michael Scott or David Brent. Felicity Ward takes on this pivotal role, with a supporting cast that includes notable Australian actors such as Edith Poor, Josh Thomson, Shari Sebbens, Steen Raskopoulos, and Jonny Brugh.

The characters in this remake appear to offer bold interpretations of familiar roles from the US version, such as Dwight (Rainn Wilson), Andy (Ed Helms), and Jim (John Krasinski).

The series synopsis reads:

“Hannah Howard is the managing director of Flinley Craddick. When she learns her branch will transition to remote work, she enters survival mode, making promises she cannot keep in order to maintain her ‘work family’.”

With its premiere set for October 18, 2024, should it fail to resonate, the series risks joining the ranks of previous unsuccessful The Office remakes.

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