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Prime Video’s Australian remake of The Office has officially been cancelled after just one season, marking the end of what was intended to be a fresh take on the beloved mockumentary format. The streaming platform confirmed that it would not move forward with a second season of the show, which premiered on October 18, 2024, after spending a year in what insiders described as “purgatory.”
The news was first reported by The Nightly, which noted that the decision came despite the series receiving fairly positive reviews from critics. The Office Australia was the 13th international adaptation of the original British series created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. It stood out from the rest for introducing the franchise’s first-ever female lead — Felicity Ward — who played Hannah Howard, the well-intentioned but often misguided Managing Director of a packaging company called Flinley Craddick.
In the show, Hannah finds herself grappling with the impending closure of her branch. Determined to save her “work family,” she imposes strict return-to-office mandates, makes questionable decisions, and overpromises in her desperate attempt to keep operations running. The character’s awkward leadership style and misplaced optimism paid homage to the cringe-comedy roots of The Office while localizing its humor and workplace culture for Australian audiences.
The ensemble cast included Edith Poor (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power), Steen Raskopoulos (Black Mirror), Josh Thomson (Young Rock), Shari Sebbens (Thor: Love and Thunder), and Zoe Terakes (Talk to Me). While critics gave the show a respectable 71% score on Rotten Tomatoes, audiences were less forgiving, giving it a modest 40% rating.
Despite its short run, The Office Australia joined a small but notable group of shows that have been adapted for Australian television. The country has previously localized several international hits, particularly in the reality genre — such as The Bachelor franchise. Another example is NCIS: Sydney, a successful spinoff of the long-running NCIS franchise. The show follows two NCIS agents working with the Australian Federal Police to investigate crimes involving U.S. Navy personnel. Its third season premiered just last week, signaling a far more successful adaptation than The Office Australia.
Interestingly, the cultural exchange between the U.S. and Australia in television adaptations has gone both ways. The U.S. famously remade Kath & Kim, one of Australia’s most iconic sitcoms. The original version enjoyed critical and popular acclaim, boasting an 85% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and winning a Logie Award for “Most Outstanding Comedy Program” in 2003. However, the 2008 American remake, starring Molly Shannon and Selma Blair, failed to capture the same spark, earning a mere 20% critics’ score despite strong initial viewership.
While The Office Australia may have struggled to win over audiences, its attempt to reimagine one of television’s most cherished comedies for a new cultural setting remains a bold creative effort. For those curious to see how the experiment played out, all eight episodes of The Office Australia are still available to stream on Prime Video — though not in the U.S.
