The most iconic British mockumentary ‘The Office’ (2001-2003) has ended for almost two decades ago and it has already got the US and Indian versions too respectively, from 2005 to 2013 (US version) and in 2019 (Indian version). The story follows at the Wernham Hogg paper company in Berkshire, the employees go about their boring routine, accompanied by the uninspiring and inappropriate jokes of their manager, David Brent.
Now, BBC Studios and Dubai based, MBC Studios have joined hands for the Arabic remake of the BAFTA and Golden Globe Awards winning show titled, ‘Al Maktab’. Egyptian director, Hisham Fathi and Italy’s Alessandro Martella will be jointly directing the Arabic redo.
According to Variety website, ‘Al Maktab’ is going to have twenty episodes and will be aired on MBC linear channels and stream on Shahid VIP OTT platform. The Arabic redo stars Saleh Abuamrh, who will be playing the role of self-absorbed yet loveable boss along with Fahad Albutairi, Nawaf Alshobaili, Saad Aziz, Adhwa Fahad, Razan Mansour, Reem Busati and Hisham Hawsawi.
BBC Studios’ André Renaud said, “Although office working may look slightly different for many of us in 2022, the familiarity of these well-observed characters as they navigate petty rivalries, moments of friendship and humour and a boss that sometimes makes a fool of themselves, still rings just as true. I’m sure audiences in the Middle East and the Gulf will take Malik and his team to their hearts as much as audiences did with David Brent in the UK over twenty years ago.”
MBC Studios’ general manager, Zeinab Abul Alsamh shared, “Audiences around the world, including in the MENA region, are no strangers to ‘The Office’, and given its huge success over the past two decades, it’s incredibly exciting for us to now be bringing the very first Arabic version of the comedy to MBC’s screens very soon.”
It’s been reported that, ‘Al Maktab’ will soon go on floor this June in Saudi Arabia and will be premiered at the end of 2022.
