by Thinus Ferreira
MultiChoice is developing an Afrikaans version of the satirical comedy series The Office in South Africa, licensed from BBC Studios and produced by Rapid Blue, which will start filming and debut in 2025 as a Showmax Original and simultaneously broadcast on kykNET (DStv 144).
The Afrikaans version of The Office will be the 14th version of the mockumentary sitcom. MultiChoice has experience with the format with kykNET's long-running Hotel and the recent Pronk Primêr which is similar to Abbott Elementary.
On Friday morning Showmax was asked but declined to say whether the title would be something like Die Kantoor, or what the initial episode order is, saying that more information about the production will only be made available later.
Nicola van Niekerk, M-Net's head of premium content and co-productions and now also Showmax's acting head of content, on Friday morning told media at kykNET's 2024 12th Silwerskerm film festival in a press briefing that South Africa will get the 14th adaptation of The Office on partnership with Ricky Gervais.
"We recently signed and we're developing in conjunction with Rapid Blue. We're extremely excited. We've started the process and will look at how is going to play the weird office boss," van Niekerk said.
"In Australia it's a woman. Will South Africa get a man or a woman? Will they be old or young? How will the office make-up look? This is one of the most exciting projects we've worked on in years," van Niekerk said.
"The reason you take a project like this is because of the expertise like the BBC comedy team and Ricky Gervais. But they don't have the writers internally for a South African adaptation. We're crewing up completely locally and we're going to get some of the best Afrikaans writers in the writers' room and make it as strong as possible."
"The thing that makes different versions of The Office so good is the adapted nuance of the writing. The cultural nuance and authenticity is critically important. You can't just take a script, translate it and think it will land. It won't land. So it will be a long development period."
Ziyanda Ngcaba, Rapid Blue managing director, says "We are proud to be producing the first African version of The Office for Showmax and kykNET".
The Office created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant made its debut over two decades ago as a British series and was successfully adapted in other territories like the United States and recently Australia.
