First Look: Ricky Gervais Returns to ‘Office’ Roots in ‘Life on the Road’

Twelve years after the BBC aired the final episode of The Office, the U.K. comedy series that would propel Ricky Gervais to stardom and launch a hugely successful U.S. adaptation, the British funnyman is returning to his roots as the iconic character David Brent.

On Tuesday, principal photography began on David Brent: Life on the Road, the feature-length spin-off following the beleaguered and delusional former office manager as he attempts to chase his dream of rock stardom with a self-financed nationwide tour with his band, Foregone Conclusion.

The first image from the film, directed and written by Gervais, sees Brent lounging in the studio, finger poised on the mixing desk.

Ben Bailey Smith (Law & Order) and Tom Basden (Plebs, The Wrong Mans) also star, with Andy Burrows of British band Razorlight playing Brent’s drummer.

David Brent: Life on the Road, which has been co-financed by eOne and BBC Films, is executive produced by Duncan Hayes, Christine Langan and Alex Hamilton, produced by Charlie Hanson (Cemetery Junction, Derek) and co-produced by Katie Mavroleon (Marley’s Ghosts, Pompidou). eOne will release across multiple territories starting with the U.K. in August, and eOne Features is handling worldwide sales.

Shooting will be in locations in and around London and Slough, where the original The Office was set. The shoot will last five weeks and is due to wrap on Dec. 18, giving Gervais plenty of time to come up with insults for his Golden Globes gig a month later.

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