The Office opens up in Poland

Vanessa Aleksander and Piotr Polak in Poland’s remake of The Office

Canal+ and BBC Studios (BBCS) have agreed a deal to remake UK scripted comedy format The Office in Poland.

The agreement means a Polish version of The Office will join other remakes in the US, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Israel, Sweden, Finland and India.

Production on the latest remake of the fly-on-the-wall style mocumentary began on July 4. The 12-part series will air on Canal+ and online on the pay TV broadcaster’s website this autumn.

It comes after the original version, written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, first aired in the UK 20 years ago this month.

Directed by Maciej Bochniak and produced by Dorota Kośmicka Gacke and Jan Kępiński, the Polish adaptation will be set in a bottled water company based in a town near Warsaw.

Central character David Brent becomes Michał, played by Piotr Polak, a self-absorbed man who craves attention and flattery. When the company is acquired by a new owner and employees start to worry about their jobs, Michał is the only optimistic one.

The local series will also see the inclusion of Patrycja, a new leading female character played by Vanessa Aleksander, who wants to bring change and newness to the company and who becomes a formidable opponent to Michał.

Małgorzata Seck, VP of programming for Canal+ Poland, said: “We decided to pursue the local version because we aim for innovative, surprising and bold content. The original had it all – universal topics that translate well to any setting worldwide – and in pandemic times we miss the mundane, office life and look at its quirks with certain nostalgia.”

André Renaud, senior VP of format sales for BBC Studios, added: “I’m looking forward to seeing how the team will reimagine office life for the 21st century Polish viewer. After the past year, I’m sure we are all craving a bit of office life and I’m hopeful that there will be more local ‘offices’ opening up in the near future.”