American actor and comedian Steven John Carell is known for his incredible performances throughout his career. However, the actor is prominently known for his role as Michael Scott in The Office. His role as Scott became so popular that soon people started recognizing the actor by his character’s name.
Indeed, Carell was a perfect fit for the role, and it’s hard to imagine anyone else playing Scott. Interestingly, Carell isn’t the only one who was considered for the role of Michael Scott, as the list of potential contenders is a bit too long. However, Carell surpassed every peer and ultimately landed the iconic role and became the fans’ favorite.
Following is a list of some notable actors who auditioned for the role of Michael Scott:
Paul Giamatti
American actor Paul Giamatti is one of the actors considered for the role of Michael Scott. Previously, during an interview, casting director Allison Jones said,
“They made an offer to Paul Giamatti, and that was the days when movie stars did not do TV, so he said no.”
Turning down the role was perhaps a terrible mistake by Giamatti, as later the character turned out to be an iconic one. However, the actor has given some notable performances throughout his career, some of which include Sideways and Billions.
Bob Odenkirk
Another popular name in the industry whose name popped up in the filmmakers’ minds while casting for Michael Scott was Bob Odenkirk. Odenkirk is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker who is known for his impeccable comic timing. The executive producer Ben Silverman once said,
“He was available and was a great comedic actor. He had an incredible reputation in the comedy world.”
Odenkirk, popularly known for his role as Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, also auditioned for the role of Michael Scott.
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman was also one of the potential contenders who was considered for the role. However, according to Allison Jones, he turned down the role. The mid-2000s was an era where actors weren’t that interested in taking on the role of television series.
Though Hoffman didn’t end up with the role, he has seen his fair share of success in his career. The actor has been part of many incredible movies, like Mission Impossible III and Capote.
John C. Reilly
John C. Reilly is an actor known for his versatility in both comedic and dramatic roles. Looking at his impressive comic timing, the actor was considered to be portraying the household character of Michael Scott.
Though the actor was one of the names who were among the potential contenders for playing Scott, fate had some other plans as the role never landed for him. Although, if cast as Scott, he would have served justice to the character, considering his ability to balance humor with emotional depth.
Louis C.K.
Louis C.K. is an American comedian who also tried his hands to get the role of Michael Scott. However, when he read the script for his role, he wasn’t able to understand it as he had other commitments with CBS.
C.K. is known for excelling in various endeavors that include being a comedian, writer, director, and producer. The actor gained widespread recognition for his FX semi-autobiographical comedy-drama series Louie.
Eugene Levy
Eugene Levy is a seasoned actor and comedian, known for his collaborations with Christopher Guest in mockumentaries like Best in Show and A Mighty Wind. He was also considered for the role of Scott, yet he didn’t end up with it.
However, if he had, his ability to create endearing and quirky characters could have added an interesting dynamic to Michael Scott. Though the character wasn’t meant for him, he has aced some other iconic characters in American Pie.
Kevin Nealon
Looking at Kevin Nealon’s contribution to the comedy genre, it wasn’t a bad idea to cast him in the role of Michael Scott. Nealon is an American stand-up comedian and actor who rose to prominence during his journey as a cast member of NBC’s Saturday Night Live.
The actor received critical acclaim for his role in the Showtime series, and there have been many other roles throughout his career where he has aced his performances.
