When the US version of The Office was first announced, the reception to it wasn’t initially great, as fans of the Ricky Gervais show weren’t convinced if the Steve Carell-led version could live up to the original. Two decades later, Aussie star Felicity Ward has found herself in a similar position, as fans of the US version, especially that of Michael Scott, aren’t too thrilled about the new reimagining with a female boss at the center.
However, the Wakefield star has remained unscathed by the whole internet backlash, and she didn’t back down from addressing the controversy.
Felicity Ward Wasn’t Surprised by The Office Backlash
To some extent, Felicity Ward can understand the anger among fans, as the actress expressed she was once angry because of the Point Break remake, which is understandable as it’s her favorite film of all time. However, speaking of the backlash against The Office remake, Ward deemed it madness, as instead of just being upset, some fans of the Steve Carell-led show are going out of their way to make personal jabs at the actors.
But the internet outrage didn’t surprise Ward, who was like “Oh, I’m gonna get f***ing dragged by the internet”, adding that “it’s a double whammy because it’s The Office and because I’m a woman”. However, the actress remains unfazed by the internet hoopla, given her history in stand-up comedy, where she “had this sh*t before”. While she isn’t sure if the new iteration will be able to maintain the traction it’s receiving now, Ward hopes many viewers will tune in with the remake and hopefully enjoy it.
I want as many motherf–k-rs to watch this as possible and enjoy it [laughs]. I don’t care where you’re getting it from. When the press release came out, when we first announced that it was even being made, I was getting tagged in articles in Brazil and Italy and Denmark, and I’m like, ‘Oh, I didn’t know that was gonna happen.’ So I don’t know, maybe something will change [in how I feel about the attention]. Maybe it won’t change. I can’t predict the future. We’ll just see what happens, right?
Although the show hasn’t opened to great initial reviews, it’s important to note that the initial season of Steve Carell’s The Office wasn’t a big hit either.
Felicity Ward Draws Comparisons With Steve Carell’s The Office’s Initial Reception
Elaborating on the Aussie iteration of The Office, Ward expressed that it’s completely different than what has come before. Drawing comparisons with the US version, which hit big after straying away from the British formula, the actress shared they’re “having the same thing that the American Office had 20 years ago”.
It’s a different show. It’s just not the same thing. We’ve got all original scripts, all original characters, all original story lines. We’re just having the same thing that the American Office had 20 years ago.
Even though the initial reactions to the pilot have been less-than-thrilling, it’ll be interesting to see if the show can find its footing over time.
The Office is yet to debut in the US.
