If a true reboot of The Office ever happens, it would need to ruin Michael Scott’s satisfying ending, and history has proven that the decision will be well worth it in the long run. The possibility of The Office reboot increased when Peacock launched in 2019, with plans to bring back the mockumentary sitcom thrown out there to appeal to potential subscribers. At that point, only six years had passed since The Office ended, but the series found record-breaking viewership through streaming. Though several prominent cast members have expressed interest in reprising their roles for a continuation project, showrunner Greg Daniels shared doubt about a real reboot happening following Peacock’s initial tease.
However, the showrunner later hinted at a potential reboot of The Office. A return would be the latest major sitcom to get the modern reboot treatment, following in the footsteps of shows like The Conners, Night Court, and Frasier. For The Office reboot to work, many notable cast members would need to return, including several of the original cast members. Granted, Daniels later clarified The Office reboot plan, revealing it wouldn’t be a revival and instead a “sister show.” Still, if a real Office reboot ever came to fruition, Steve Carell would need to return as Michael Scott.
The Office Gave Michael Scott A Perfect Sendoff – But A Real Reboot Would Need Him Back
Michael Scott served as Dunder Mifflin Scranton’s vapid yet successful Regional Manager for seven seasons on The Office. After years of failed relationships and attempts to have a family of his own, he found the love of his life in Holly Flax. Following his proposal, the pair left Scranton to move to Colorado, and, in turn, Carell left The Office after serving as a central character since 2005. Michael’s departure was sad, but it turned out to be a perfect sendoff, allowing the character to finally receive what he had always wanted while allowing his co-workers to share how much they mean to him and the workplace.
Despite giving Michael Scott the ideal sendoff, it would be extremely tough for a direct reboot of The Office to ever work without having Steve Carell involved in some capacity. Upon the move to Colorado, Michael ended up having a family with Holly after The Office season 7. This was confirmed in The Office‘s series finale when he surprisingly returned to Scranton for Dwight and Angela’s wedding. Michael’s fate was perfect in season 7, and the finale only reassured that notion, but Carell has remained one of the faces of the series, especially as the sitcom found another following in pop culture following streaming dominance. A true reboot would be lacking without Michael’s presence.
The Office Seasons 8 & 9 Prove Undoing Michael Scott’s Ending Could Be Worth It
If any kind of reboot featuring The Office‘s original cast decides to leave Carell’s Michael Scott behind, it would essentially be a continuation of The Office seasons 8 and 9, which are widely viewed as the two weakest installments. Michael’s absence was heavily felt in the show’s final two seasons, as was the void left by Carell’s leadership. While it would be unfortunate to break Michael’s seemingly perfect ending set up from season 7, the next two seasons without him proved that it’s a worthwhile trade-off if it means having Michael back in some way.
A reboot of The Office is only appealing if it’s a project replicating what the show was like at its peak. Bringing back Michael is the only way to live up to those very high expectations. Having Carell return wouldn’t have to undo Michael’s previous ending completely. He could be visiting Scranton for the short term to reunite with some of his old co-workers and friends, or maybe he decides to move back to Scranton with his family at the same time other characters come back to town. Either way, The Office reboot has options if it’s serious about a proper revival.
