The Office Stars Address Return & Cameo Rumors in Reboot: ‘I’m Happy to Do Something’

With The Office getting a ‘reboot’ at Peacock, many fans are speculating which stars from NBC’s original hit comedy series could return for the new show. However, Rainn Wilson, who plays Dwight Schrute in The Office, has quickly killed rumors that he will reprise the role in Peacock’s rebooted series. Following a reunion with fellow The Office alum, Craig Robinson (as well as Jenna Fischer, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, and Creed Bratton), for a new AT&T ad, the pair spoke to CinemaBlend about reuniting and Peacock’s new show.

During the interview, both actors were asked about the possibility of returning, either as regulars or for a cameo, in Peacock’s reboot. Wilson quickly, but earnestly, dismissed the idea, saying he’s simply not sure how Dwight Schrute, a beet-farmer and suck-up to his boss, Michael Scott (Steve Carell), would fit into Peacock’s new series, which follows a struggling newspaper in the mid-west. In response to rumors of a return, Wilson said:

“Yeah, I don’t see how Dwight goes from Scranton to wherever they’re shooting it in the Midwest.”

However, despite being unable to imagine a world where Dwight travels to the newspaper company, Rainn Wilson said he would be open to working with Greg Daniels (the creator of the US version of The Office) on the new series. Wilson continued:

“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. I understand that they’re why they’re leaving Scranton, but I kind of feel like there should be like seven different office spinoffs kind of like Law and Order. Like there’s Law and Order: SVU and Law and Order: Criminal Intent, and there should be all of these workplace documentaries going on, but they should all be in the Scranton Wilkes Bar, Lackawanna County, greater Metropolitan area.”

Craig Robinson Doesn’t Think Any of The Office Cast Can Return as Regulars

Peacock’s The Office reboot takes the series away from Dunder Mifflin, and away from Scranton, Pennsylvania, shifting its focus to a struggling local newspaper in the Midwest, which is desperately trying to save itself with volunteer reporters. Two of the show’s new leads have already been announced in Ex-Machina‘s Domhnall Gleeson and The White Lotus‘ Sabrina Impacciatore. While the new series already features a strong leading cast, Craig Robinson (who played Darryl in the original series) believes it would be impossible for any of the original cast to return as regulars. In the same interview, Robinson said:

“I think we were given a heads up that it’s the all new cast, all new thing they’re doing. And you know, with Greg Daniels at the helm, he’s always gonna be looking out for the best interest. So if he had an idea [for a cameo], I mean, I don’t think many of us could go back to his regulars at this point. But, to pop in, make sure the office is running right. That might happen. I don’t know.”