Albert Pretorius Steps Into an Iconic Role in SA’s Re-imagining of The Office
Showmax has unveiled the first trailer for Die Kantoor, the South African adaptation of the globally beloved mockumentary The Office, licensed by BBC Studios. The series will preview on kykNET at 8pm on Sunday, 18 January, before its Showmax double-bill premiere on Tuesday, 20 January, followed by weekly episodes on both platforms.
At the centre of the adaptation is Albert Pretorius, the 2025 Fleur du Cap and Woordfees award winner, who takes on his biggest television role yet as Flip, the well-meaning but painfully misguided manager of polony distributors Deluxe Processed Meats.
The role of the office boss is television history. It earned Ricky Gervais and Steve Carell their first Golden Globes as David Brent in the original UK series and Michael Scott in the US adaptation. Pretorius admits stepping into such legendary territory came with pressure. “Yes, it’s a scary one; this is one of the dream ones. Very few people ever get to play a role this big,” he says.
Meet Flip: SA’s Most Cringe-Worthy Boss
Flip sees himself as “the Rassie Erasmus of polony,” convinced the documentary crew is filming his own Chasing the Sun as he leads his team to greatness. Inspired by Leon Schuster, he loves candid-camera pranks and believes he’s endlessly entertaining. In reality, Flip is grappling with outdated ideas of masculinity and leadership, trying far too hard to be liked. That tension, Pretorius explains, is where the comedy lives.
“Isn’t that what cringe is? People trying their best by being the absolute worst.”
Pretorius’ first encounter with the script was confronting.
“I was sent one monologue without context and thought, ‘We cannot say any of this.’”
But once he read the full scripts, he discovered a balance of absurdity and heart. While Flip often says inappropriate things, the show never celebrates them; instead, lingering looks to camera and reactions from other characters underline the discomfort, keeping the humour self-aware.
From Ricky Gervais to Steve Carell — and Beyond
A longtime fan of The Office, Pretorius recalls watching the UK version during drama school at UCT and initially believing it was a real documentary. He later embraced the US series, which carried him through lockdown.
“They’re very different but both brilliant,”.
he says, praising Gervais’ original vision and Carell’s warmth, especially Michael Scott’s relationship with Holly
So where does Die Kantoor fit? According to Pretorius, it finds its own lane.
“It’s not quite the UK cringe or as over-the-top as the American humour. It’s something else again — very South African.”
An Ensemble-Driven Workplace
Although Flip dominates the screen, Die Kantoor is firmly an ensemble piece. Cast members remained at their desks in character even when not in a scene, allowing cameras to capture authentic office moments.
“It really made it feel like an office,”.
Pretorius says, crediting subtle reactions and background business for selling the comedy
The series is produced by Rapid Blue, part of BBC Studios, with SAFTA and Silwerskerm winner Bennie Fourie serving as head writer and director. Pretorius describes working with Fourie as one of his best experiences yet, praising the freedom to rehearse, explore, and push boundaries — a rarity in local television production.
A Landmark Adaptation
Created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, The Office debuted over 20 years ago and became a global phenomenon. The original UK version is still ranked by Metacritic as the best-reviewed comedy series of all time, while the US adaptation won five Emmys and became the world’s most streamed show in 2020. Die Kantoor marks the franchise’s 14th international adaptation, reaffirming the universal appeal of workplace comedy.
Alongside Pretorius, the cast includes Schalk Bezuidenhout, Lida Botha, Carl Beukes, Ilse Oppelt, Daniah de Villiers, Mehboob Bawa, Sipumziwe Lucwaba, and newcomer Gert du Plessis.
As Pretorius balances wedding plans, turning 40, and new creative projects, Die Kantoor stands as a major milestone in his career — and a bold new chapter for one of television’s most iconic formats, now reimagined through a distinctly South African lens.
