First trailer released for long-awaited Aussie version of The Office

We’ve been given our first official glimpse into the brand-new local version of The Office, just weeks out from its premiere.

Fans have been given their first look at the long-awaited new Aussie version of The Office, just weeks ahead of its official release.

The Prime Video series, based off the wildly popular original UK version and its US adaptation, stars Felicity Ward as Hannah Howard, the charming yet incompetent managing director of fictional Sydney-based packaging company, Flinley Craddick.

The comedian is stepping into the latest iteration of the role first made famous by British star Ricky Gervais and later by American actor Steve Carrell – and becomes the first woman to do so from 13 remakes.

Felicity Ward as Hannah Howard (left) and Edith Poor as Lizzie Moyle. Picture: Prime Video

In the trailer, Howard can be heard in the voice-over, explaining: “People ask me, ‘how can I become a great boss?’ and the answer is, having a happy staff that love you.”

Shortly afterwards, the head of HR, Martin Katavake (played by Josh Thomson), tells viewers: “This is a proper HR nightmare.”

The Australian series focuses on Howard’s well-intentioned but wild strategies as she goes into survival mode in order to keep her “work family” together after learning that Head Office plans to shut down the branch in favour of a WFH policy.

Her employees are left to endure and navigate her outlandish plots as they attempt to reach their impossible targets.

Throughout the two-minute teaser, receptionist Lizzie Moyle (actress Edith Poor) seemingly steps into the rigid, oddball, no-nonsense role set of Dwight Shrute and Gareth Keenan (from the US and UK Offices, respectively) as she is enlisted by her boss as her right-hand woman – or, more technically, the company’s “productivity manager”.

The Australian version is the 13th adaptation of the hit series. Picture: Prime Video

The Office UK was a mockumentary sitcom which first launched in 2001, but ended after two seasons. The Office US premiered in 2005 and ran through until 2013, launching the careers of Carrell, Mindy Kaling, and John Krasinski.

Along with Ward, Thomson and Poor, Steen Raskopoulos and Shari Sebbens star as sales representatives Nick and Greta, Jonny Brush as head of IT, Lloyd Kneath, Susan Ling Young as sales representative Tina Kwong, Raj Labade as intern Sebastian Roy, Lucy Schmidt as head of finance Deborah Leonard, and Zoe Terakes as head of the warehouse, Stevie Jones.

The Office Australia will also feature guest appearances from Susie Youssef, Justin Rosniiak, Carlo Ritchie, Rick Donald, and Chris Bunton.

It will premiere on Prime Video on October 18.

Originally published as First trailer released for long-awaited Aussie version of The Office