Running for ten seasons, The Office, starring the likes of Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, and Jenna Fischer, stands as one of the most impactful shows in recent times. The mockumentary, which aired a total of 201 episodes, captured viewers’ imaginations and still stands as one of the most streamed shows globally. Taking note of this popularity, a spinoff of sorts was greenlit for development and has now reached an advanced stage with actors from the original show opening up about their wishes and interests in a reprisal.
A major selling point for the show stood as the dynamic between Carell’s Michael Scott and Wilson’s Dwight Schrute. The blend of dry comedy produced by the duo still stands unmatched to this day. However, fans hoping to get a glimpse of it again may be in for a disappointment, at least partially.
Rainn Wilson teases a fate opposite to that of Steve Carell’s character
For a few times now, Steve Carell has sealed shut any hopes of his return in character as Michael Scott. Additionally, he has stressed the fact that his character received sufficient exploration and a decent story arc, leaving no room for further reprisal. Interestingly, Rainn Wilson teased a possible return of his character even without the involvement of his running mate. In talks with CinemaBlend, the actor stated that “I’m happy to do something” if Greg Daniels, the show’s creator, “wanted him to.
“Yeah, I don’t see how Dwight goes from Scranton to wherever they’re shooting it in the Midwest. But, you know, if Greg [Daniels] wants me to do something, I’m happy to do something. But, I am sad that they’re leaving Scranton.”
The talks also extended to him diving into the details and his wishes from the spinoff. From not wanting the new show to be based somewhere out of Scanton, as featured in the original, to wishing for “seven different office spinoffs”, he, however, did not shut down his interest in reprising the role of Dwight Schrute.
Regardless, his displeasure with the new series taking place at a new location might hint at his reservations, if any, about his character fitting into the new dynamic.
Why Dwight without Michael in the new Office spinoff sounds like a bad idea
In The Office, Michael Scott’s cluelessness as a regional manager and Dwight Schrute’s quips as an assistant to the regional manager created a rivalry ripe for humor. The polar opposite in the former’s unconventional behavior and the latter’s oddball ethics gave a stark contrast and made way for an absurdity that brought out emotions, relatability, and emotional depth for the audience. An absence of any of the two, such as the show’s fate following Carell’s exit after season seven, brought about mixed responses and a complete shift in dynamics.
In every essence, the upcoming spinoff will be different from the original. Starting from the setting to the characters. Thus, Dwight showing up will lead to fans disconnecting from his legacy in the original. Not only would it ruin the actual ending of The Office but create fresh grounds for Wilson to cover and risk losing his repute as a comedic genius. Finally, a cameo of sorts would at best work both for the actor as well as the new show, all the while preserving the legacy of The Office.
The Office is available to stream on Peacock, Hulu, and Vudu.
