There’s a new Superstore opening its doors in Africa. NBCUniversal Formats and African streamer Showmax have announced a collaboration to create a Zulu-language adaptation of the hit U.S. workplace comedy.
This marks Showmax’s second major comedy adaptation, following their remake of The Office in partnership with BBC Studios. With production set to begin this year, the South African version of Superstore will be locally produced by Barkers Media (Killer Front Page, Shebeen Queens, How to Manifest a Man) in association with Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group.
READ: Five Set to Star in Amazon MGM Orion’s Film Adaptation of Aleshea Harris’ Revenge Thriller Is God Is
The upcoming adaptation follows in the footsteps of Supertitlán, the Mexican take on Superstore, making it the second non-English version of the show. The original Superstore, created by Justin Spitzer (The Office), debuted on NBC in 2015 and ran for six successful seasons, earning praise as “one of TV’s greatest workplace comedies” by Rotten Tomatoes.
Nicola van Niekerk, Executive Head of Programming at Showmax’s parent company MultiChoice, shared her excitement: “We’re on Cloud 9! I laughed my way through every episode of Superstore and can’t wait to see how the funny and lovable characters are reimagined in our complex country.”
Reneilwe Sema and Mpho Lengane of Barkers Media, who serve as executive producers for the South African version, are equally thrilled. “The format is globally recognized and adored by audiences all over the world,” says Lengane. “We’re looking forward to adding that distinctive South African flavor to it.”
Hannah Mabruk, VP of Format Sales for NBCUniversal Formats, emphasized the universal appeal of the show: “Superstore resonates with audiences globally because of its humor, heart, and themes of community and friendship flourishing in the workplace. Together with Showmax and Barkers Media, we look forward to bringing a uniquely South African spin to these lovable characters.”
The original Superstore followed the quirky employees of Cloud 9, a fictional big-box store, as they tackled everything from riot-inducing sales to bizarre workplace dynamics. The series starred America Ferrera, who earned a Gracie Allen Award for her role as floor manager Amy, alongside Ben Feldman, Lauren Ash, Nico Santos, Colton Dunn, and Mark McKinney. With a slew of accolades, including nominations from GLAAD, the Writers Guild of America, and the Television Critics Association, Superstore has left a lasting legacy.
For fans eager to revisit the original, all six seasons of Superstore are currently streaming on Showmax. Stay tuned for updates as the South African version brings its unique cultural twist to this beloved comedy.