There is some big news for African TV as Showmax is gearing up to create a South African version of the popular series The Office. The show has been adapted around the world 14 times, as of now. Originally, it was brought to life by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.
The South African version of the show will be produced primarily in Afrikaans by Rapid Blue, a production company under the BBC's international network. This unique local flavor will bring something new to the production. The adaptation will debut on Showmax and kykNET, marking a first for Africa as DStv's Afrikaans channel airs the show.
This news comes as more and more countries are putting their spin on the famous show. One standout moment was when Martin Freeman jumped back into his Tim Canterbury role for a funny SNL skit that mixed The Office with The Hobbit. Well, now South Africa is jumping in, with production starting in 2025.
Showmax’s strategic move to localize global hits like The Office
Showmax is taking a shot at adapting The Office as part of its plan to bring popular global shows to African viewers. This South African version is rolling out right after Showmax's big relaunch in February, where they teamed up with Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Sky, giving them a ton more content to work with.
Nicola van Niekerk, currently the acting head of content at Showmax, shared some thoughts with Variety in an exclusive statement on August 30, 2024.
“The relaunch slate included all nine seasons of the American version of The Office, which went straight into our top five international series on the platform for the month.”
Showmax has gained some international love for its original shows like Spinners, Wyfie, Catch Me A Killer, and Adulting, proving that it cares about making high-quality productions that tell African stories.
The new South African version looks promising enough, thanks to the folks at Rapid Blue. They’ve worked on shows like Is’thunzi, which even got Thuso Mbedu two nominations at the International Emmys.
“We are proud to be producing the first African version of The Office for Showmax and kykNET,” said Ziyanda Ngcaba, managing director of Rapid Blue.
The legacy of The Office and its global appeal
The franchise has been a huge hit around the world ever since the original British version came out more than 20 years ago. It’s been adapted by countries like Australia, France, Canada, and India. Each one adds its local flavor to this workplace comedy.
The American version took off, snagging five Emmy Awards and becoming the most streamed show worldwide in 2020. People can't get enough of the show because it captures the ups and downs of working life. It also has some quirky characters and uses a mockumentary style that many shows have copied since.
The South African version is set to take a similar path, but with a unique Afrikaans twist that will resonate with local audiences. The show aims to connect with different cultures while keeping its funny side, to show how relatable it is to everyone.
You can binge all nine seasons of the American version of The Office on Showmax right now.
Keep an eye on Soap Central for all the latest on the South African version of the show, including behind-the-scenes peeks and casting updates.
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