NBC is planning to bring back it’s award-winning Sitcom, The Office, later next year. But there’s one big catch. Michael Scott, and subsequently actor Steve Carell, won’t be returning to Dunder Mifflin.
Since the show ended in 2013, after nine successful seasons, NBC has been trying to find a way to bring back The Office in one way, shape, or form. Many rumors have circulated, from a Schrute Farms spinoff to a simple revival. According to TV Line, it looks like the studio will be moving forward with the latter idea.
The report states that the show will continue the stories Scranton’s Dunder Mifflin offices. The cast will allegedly feature a mix of well-known characters from the original run and some new faces as well. Steve Carell will definitely not be one of those returning characters, unfortunately.
Ever since The Office debuted in 2005 as an adaptation of the original BBC series of the same name, which starred Ricky Gervais, Carell’s performance as the inept Regional Manager Michael Scott was a fan favorite. Scott’s well-intentioned attempts at humor resulted in some of the most cringe-worthy, yet hilarious, scenes in the entire series. Most memorable of all of those being the failed promise of the Scott’s Tots scholarship.
Yet after seven seasons, Carell departed the series – though he did return for Dwight’s Wedding – and fans were not happy about it. While NBC did their best to replace Carell’s star power, bringing in beloved Comedy actor Will Ferrell as Deangelo Vickers, fans and critics alike stated the show was going downhill.
With that in mind, it’s hard to see fans being entirely too happy with the idea of a revival without Scott. Especially if other fan favorites like Jim and Pam don’t return, something that is entirely likely given the way the show ended, with both moving to Austin to open a new branch of Athleap (previously Athlead) with Darryl.
Though the revival may be a controversial decision in the eyes of many fans, it doesn’t entirely come as a surprise given NBC’s recent track record reviving fan favorite shows. Alongside the revival, and retconning, of Roseanne, NBC recently revealed Will and Grace would be returning as well.