Mexican ‘The Office’ Brings Unique Humor to Amazon Prime

The beloved series The Office is getting a Mexican adaptation on Amazon Prime Video, crafted by director Gary Alazraki and writer Marcos Bucay. Set in Aguascalientes, La Oficina promises a fresh take on office life for Latin American audiences.

A New ‘The Office’ for Mexican Audiences

The Office, the cult-favorite mockumentary that redefined workplace comedy, is heading to Mexico with a new version exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. This adaptation, La Oficina, will feature Mexican office life’s unique humor and cultural nuances. The series will be helmed by renowned Mexican director Gary Alazraki and writer Marcos Bucay, whose collaboration on Club de Cuervos set a new standard for Latin American streaming content.

La Oficina will occur in a fictional soap manufacturing company, ‘Jabones Olimpo,’ in Aguascalientes, Mexico. The story revolves around the antics and lack of leadership of Jerónimo Ponce III, the company’s hapless manager, played by a yet-to-be-announced actor. “I’ve wanted to adapt The Office since I bought Ricky Gervais’ DVDs in 2003,” Alazraki told Wired. “Its humor and presentation format make it the bravest comedy I’ve ever seen.”

This adaptation will be the second Spanish-language version of The Office, joining a list of international versions that include adaptations in Chile, Poland, and France. While other adaptations often stayed close to the original, La Oficina promises to introduce a unique Mexican flair, with characters and stories that reflect Mexico’s vibrant office culture and humor.

Mexican Office Culture Shows Unique Twist on a Global Hit

Alonso Aguilar, director of Mexico Originals at Amazon Studios, believes La Oficina will offer a distinct flavor that sets it apart from previous adaptations. “Mexican office culture has its own quirks and social dynamics, and we’re excited to highlight that,” Aguilar shared with Wired. “We know we have something that will exceed expectations and leave fans of previous versions speechless.”

This cultural twist is a central element of the show’s appeal. Aguilar emphasized that the Mexican workplace has a unique combination of humor, camaraderie, and chaos that can’t be replicated elsewhere. The idiosyncrasies of Mexican office life—from elaborate birthday celebrations to the importance of hierarchy and family connections—will lend authenticity and freshness to La Oficina.

BBC Studios’ André Renaud, senior vice president of global format sales, echoed this enthusiasm, explaining that each adaptation brings something new to The Office format. “For over 20 years, multiple versions of The Office have captivated audiences worldwide. It’s exciting that Prime Video viewers in Latin America can now meet their own David Brent in Jerónimo Ponce III,” Renaud told Wired. He added that La Oficina is an opportunity to highlight the subtleties of Mexican humor for a global audience.

The Creative Minds Behind La Oficina

La Oficina brings together Alazraki and Bucay, two of Mexico’s most influential figures in contemporary television. Alazraki is best known for Club de Cuervos, the hit series that became the first Spanish-language show on Netflix and garnered a massive following. His work on El Padre de la Novia (the Mexican version of Father of the Bride) further cemented his reputation as a director capable of blending cultural specificity with universal appeal. Alazraki’s production company, Máquina Vega, operates in Los Angeles and Mexico City and has spearheaded several successful projects that resonate with Mexican and international audiences.

Bucay, the showrunner for La Oficina, is a celebrated writer with a knack for comedy. His viral video creations with La Gran Royal, like Colibritany and Fer y Santi, have collectively garnered over 300 million views, showcasing his ability to connect with Mexican audiences. Now heading to Happy Shop Studio, Bucay has built a career around Mexican comedy, creating content that captures the humor of everyday life. “The Mexican version of The Office celebrates our unique office culture,” Bucay told Wired. “We’ve reinvented the original format with a Mexican twist, and I think audiences will love the result.”

Together, Alazraki and Bucay aim to capture the essence of The Office while grounding it in Mexican cultural nuances. Their approach is set to infuse La Oficina with the same humor that made the original a global sensation but with stories and characters rooted in the realities of Mexican workplaces.

What to Expect from La Oficina

While details about the cast and release date are yet to be revealed, La Oficina has generated significant buzz. Set against the backdrop of a family-owned business in Aguascalientes, the series is expected to explore themes familiar to fans of the original Office while adapting them to reflect Mexican humor, family dynamics, and office politics. Fans can expect La Oficina to draw on some of Mexico’s most beloved comedic tropes, from exaggerated expressions to elaborate office celebrations.

The characters will reflect familiar archetypes with a Mexican twist. Jerónimo Ponce III, the series’ manager, is expected to be the heart of the show, echoing the incompetence and charm of Michael Scott while embodying uniquely Mexican traits. Through his character, the series will tackle everything from nepotism and unqualified leadership to the warmth and resilience of Mexican workers who navigate such environments daily.

In an interview with Variety, Alazraki highlighted his passion for the project, emphasizing that he sees The Office as “the bravest comedy” he’s encountered. For him, adapting the series for a Mexican audience is an opportunity to blend his deep admiration for the original with his commitment to representing Mexican culture authentically. The creative team hopes to maintain the mockumentary style of the original series, allowing Mexican audiences to experience the familiar feeling of watching their workplace lives unfold on screen.

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Ultimately, La Oficina aims to expand The Office universe by capturing a distinct cultural perspective. By celebrating Mexico’s unique office culture, La Oficina will introduce viewers across Latin America to characters and stories that resonate deeply with their experiences. Fans of the original and new viewers alike can look forward to a series that brings a fresh take to the humor of everyday office life.