Over the course of its nine-season, 201-episode run, The Office earned a spot among the most acclaimed comedy series of all time in the U.S. — much in the same way the BBC series that inspired it became one of the most successful British programs ever.
The new mockumentary film David Brent: Life on the Road revisits the original British incarnation of The Office, with a look at former regional manager David Brent — played by Ricky Gervais — 12 years after the events of the sitcom. Now a traveling salesman, Brent chases his dreams of becoming a famous rock star while traveling the U.K. with his band “Foregone Conclusion.”
BBC Films and Entertainment One released the first official trailer for Life on the Road this week ahead of its international premiere in theaters later this year and its arrival on Netflix in 2017.
For those who might not be familiar with the original BBC series, Gervais’ David Brent is essentially the same character Steve Carell famously played in the American version of The Office, with Carell’s Michael Scott modified to fit the U.S. setting for the series and some of the actor’s sensibilities.
Along with Gervais reprising his role as David Brent, the cast of Life on the Road includes Ben Bailey Smith (Law & Order) as Dom, and writer/comedian Tom Basden (Plebs) as Brent’s road manager, Dan. The film also introduces a new cast of characters playing David’s co-workers in his traveling salesman job, including Jo Hartley (Not Safe For Work) as Pauline, Tom Bennett (PhoneShop) as Nigel, Andrew Brooke (PhoneShop) as Jezza, and Nina Sosanya (Love Actually) as David’s therapist.
David Brent: Life on the Road will premiere in theaters in August in the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, and then will debut on Netflix in the U.S. at some point in 2017.
