'The Office' rumored to be setting up shop in China
Ricky Gervais, producer of the U.K. (and U.S.) hit "The Office," has suggested that a Chinese version of the show could be in the making
How will Chinese censors take to Ricky Gervis' sense of humor in "The Office"? Audiences in the Middle Kingdom may soon find out.A Chinese David Brent? It could happen, says the show's producer and British comedian, Ricky Gervais, on his eponymously titled blog, Ricky Gervais.
“I have some amazing news too. We are about to start work on developing a Chinese The Office,” wrote Gervais. “How cool is that?”
He continued that “The Office” team were planning on creating a Chinese version of the show that “revolves around the life of a group of employees in a paper company.” Not a far cry from the original show that took place at Slough paper company. Our only question is, this time around, will the company be state-owned or privatized?
“The Office,” a U.K. comedy filmed in fake documentary style about the day-to-day operations of a paper business, first aired on BBC in 2001 and from there has seen huge global success, being remade in six languages and shown in the United States, France, Germany, Chile, Canada and Israel, as well as the United Kingdom.
Gervais became famous for more than his work behind the camera, also playing David Brent, the regional manager in “The Office” described by his staff as the "boss from hell" -- among other things. No word yet on who will try Gervais’ desk on for size in the Chinese version.
Timing for the show is also up in the air, but a spokeswoman for BBC Worldwide, which licensed some international versions of the show, said to reporters that there was "no deal in place, no broadcaster, and it's not in production." We’re guessing that means it’s in its (very) early stages.
Although the news of a new "The Office" -- in China or not -- is sure to excite fans from around the world, some media are raising concerns about how the show’s tendency to mock office politics and corporate culture might face challenges in China, where many of these issues are sensitive and government censors are highly involved in media content.
Aware of China’ proclivity to get involved in media projects, Gervais wrote on his blog that “The Office” might now make it to air if Chinese censors see his newest project, "An Idiot Abroad," a show which sends a culturally clueless person on a trip around the world -- and the mishaps that ensue.
The announcement that “The Office,” which ran for two series in the United Kingdom, but is on its seventh season in the United States, will come to China follows on the heals of two other popular foreign shows coming to the Chinese market, “High School Musical” and possibly also a Chinese remake of “Gossip Girl.”
