Showmax to launch South African adaptation of The Office in Afrikaans

Ed Waller 30-08-2024 ©C21Media

The US version of The Office aired on NBC

Showmax, the NBCUniversal- and MultiChoice-backed African streaming service, has inked a deal with BBC Studios to produce a South African adaptation of the internationally acclaimed comedy series, The Office.

This new adaptation, primarily in Afrikaans, will be available on both Showmax and kykNET, pay TV platform DStv’s Afrikaans-language channel. The production will be handled by Rapid Blue, a South African production company that is part of BBC Studios’ global network. Production is set to begin in 2025.

The Office, originally created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant over two decades ago, has become a cultural phenomenon, with adaptations in various countries including the US, Australia, France, Chile, Israel, India, the Middle East and Poland. The South African version marks the 14th international remake of the show.

Rapid Blue, acquired by BBC Studios in 2016, has a strong track record in adapting international unscripted formats for African audiences. The company has produced successful versions of shows like Dancing With The Stars, The Bachelor, Family Feud, and Come Dine With Me.

Showmax’s recent relaunch in February, in partnership with Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Sky, has already seen the US version of The Office become a top performer on the platform. The success indicated a strong appetite among Showmax viewers for this genre of content, so the localised version is expected to generate significant interest.

“We are proud to be producing the first African version of The Office for Showmax and kykNET,” said Rapid Blue MD Ziyanda Ngcaba. “The format is globally recognised and adored by audiences all over the world.”

Nicola van Niekerk, Showmax’s acting head of content, expressed enthusiasm about the project: “Our very first Showmax Original was a mockumentary, Tali’s Wedding Diary, so we’re delighted, just seven years later, to start reimagining the most iconic mockumentary of them all.”