A new The Office series is currently in the works at Peacock, and a Steve Carell cameo would be the perfect way to bring the franchise full circle. Adapted from the UK original by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the US adaptation is undoubtedly the most successful version. With nine seasons, the US counterpart outruns the British version by a distant stretch and remains popular to this day. In addition to the upcoming The Office reboot, there is also an Australian remake of the show coming up.
The new Office series will take place in a dying newspaper, with its works being followed by the same documentary crew that introduced us to Dunder Mifflin Scranton two decades ago. None of The Office actors have been confirmed for the reboot, with the new series following instead brand new characters in a cast featuring names such as Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore,
Steve Carell’s Michael Scott Met Ricky Gervais’ David Brent In The Office US
The UK’s Boss At Wernham Hogg Appears In The US Version’s Cold Open
There are big differences between The Office UK and US, and there’s very little association with the British original right up until season 7, episode 14, “The Seminar.” Scott and Brent meet outside an elevator in the cold open, where they share a brief interaction. Michael detects Gervais’ British accent, and the pair go on to discuss the fake characters they have made up over the years. The bosses of the paper companies, Dunder Mifflin and Wernham Hogg, get along like a house on fire, and Scott embraces Brent after he says the American’s signature catchphrase, “That’s what she said.
The interaction ends with Brent asking if Dunder Mifflin is hiring, before he exits, and Michael says, “What a nice guy.” In the early stages of development for the American remake, Ricky Gervais was recommended for the role of Michael Scott. However, Gervais immediately declined the role, saying “What would be the point of that?” (via Letterman). Gervais posits the original Office‘s success to the characters, who are a key factor in the comedian’s ability to accurately portray the behavior of the British people within an office setting, which resonates with the British audience.
Carell Should Only Be In The Office Reboot For A Small Cameo Like Gervais’
Carell Has The Opportunity To Recreate Scott And Brent’s Interaction
When he was asked about the upcoming The Office reboot, Steve Carell said, “I will be watching, but I will not be showing up… that is off the cards.” Of course, the same was said about Ricky Gervais’ US Office cameo, before he did feature at the midway point of season 7 for a small role.
If Carell were to appear in the new series, it would be the perfect chance to recreate the one moment when Michael met David in the cold open, this time with Michael being the surprise appearance. The fact that the same documentary crew from the previous show will be following this newspaper in the new series means that potential crossovers between classic The Office characters and new ones wouldn’t be difficult to pull off. It would also be interesting to have either Michael or David showing up in the Australian remake.