German Version of The Office Heads to the Big Screen
Although I hate to speculate on someone else’s net worth, I think it’s safe to say that Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant are doing quite well thanks to the worldwide success of their show The Office. They may have only done a couple of seasons on the BBC plus a series finale, the show has gone on to be adapted in a ton of other countries including the U.S., France (Le Bureau), Brazil (Os Aspones), Quebec (La Job), Chile (La Ofis) and Germany (Stromberg) — with even more on the way. It’s strange to think that the show has actually become an even bigger hit in some of these other countries than it was in the U.K. Case in point: the German version of The Office is about to make the jump to the big screen!
The Hollywood Reporter tells us that the season 4 finale of Stromberg is being developed as a feature film, with writer and series co-creator Ralf Husmann penning the script. Christoph Maria Herbst stars as the German version of David Brent, Bernd Stromberg. It’s interesting to note that the German version of the show also spawned a spin-off, much like the American one that will debut this fall. I guess it just goes to show that Gervais and Merchant really tapped into some universal themes with The Office. Can it really work on the big screen though? Do you think the American version will eventually get a movie of its own? For a surreal glimpse at The Office in another language, check out a clip of Stromberg below.
Comments (4)
Oh man, can’t wait to get home and watch this, since I don’t get Youtube at work. And I speak German, too. Thanks for posting this, Sean. I’m very suprised I hadn’t heard of the German version before. I think they should make an internet video or something where all the Michael Scotts and David Brents from the different versions all come together for like a convention or support group. I’d like to see that.
Posted by Matt on August 28th, 2008I don’t speak German, so I don’t know if what I just watched was funny or not, but I do think that having two incarnations of David Brent is enough. I wouldn’t be interested in seeing any more. I didn’t realize there was a Brazilian and Chilean version of the Office too! Jeez.
And also, what kind of German television show doesn’t have Kraftwerk, weinerschnitzel and people wearing those hats with feathers in them? Not my kind that’s for sure. I’m happy with my Sprockets, thank you.
Posted by Joel on August 28th, 2008I really would watch the Office in any language. Sad that wasn’t subtitled.
Posted by Goon on August 28th, 2008Aimer, ce n’est pas se regarder l’un l’autre, c’est regarder ensemble dans la même direction.
Posted by Atkerson on June 5th, 2009Leave a Reply