New ‘The Office’ spin-off to begin filming in US this summer
A new series set in the same universe as the US version of The Office is to begin filming this summer.
Peacock announced today (May 8) that the new, and as yet untitled, series will not be a reboot, as per previous rumours, but will be instead set in the same universe as the US version of the hit show. It will feature a new cast and have its own storyline.
The US Office – a reboot of the British mockumentary series starring and created by Ricky Gervais – ran for nine seasons from 2005 to 2013, and followed fictional paper company Dunder Mifflin in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The US version starred Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Rainn Wilson and more.
The new series, which has been co-created by The Office’s Greg Daniels and Nathan for You co-creator Michael Koman, will once again be a mockumentary (as per The Hollywood Reporter).
The show will follow a struggling newspaper and its publisher’s attempts to revive it with a group of volunteer reporters, according to a statement.
It will also feature Ex-Machina actor Domhnall Gleeson and The White Lotus’ Sabrina Impacciatore who will lead the cast. Production on the show will begin in July.
Lisa Katz, president of NBCUniversal Entertainment said in a statement: “It’s been more than 10 years since the final episode of The Office aired on NBC, and the acclaimed comedy series continues to gain popularity and build new generations of fans on Peacock.
“In partnership with Universal Television and led by the creative team of Greg Daniels and Michael Koman, this new series set in the universe of Dunder Mifflin introduces a new cast of characters in a fresh setting ripe for comedic storytelling: a daily newspaper.”
The synopsis of the new series reads: “The documentary crew that immortalised Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch is in search of a new subject when they discover a dying historic Midwestern newspaper and the publisher trying to revive it with volunteer reporters.”
The comedy is executive produced by Daniels and Koman, as well as the team behind the original UK version of The Office, Gervais and Stephen Merchant.
Announcing the show on social media, Stephen Merchant said: “Breaking news. From paper company to daily newspaper. I’m very excited that Greg Daniels and Michael Koman are taking us back to #TheOffice universe.”
Breaking news. From paper company to daily newspaper. I’m very excited that Greg Daniels and Michael Koman are taking us back to #TheOffice universe. https://t.co/aAoIyHNliI
— Stephen Merchant (@StephenMerchant) May 8, 2024
While NBC had previously stated they had “no plans” to reboot The Office, in 2021 it was reported that they were seemingly waiting for Daniels to come to them.
Rumours of a reboot of The Office was also met with a mixed response from fans last year.
The post New ‘The Office’ spin-off to begin filming in US this summer appeared first on NME.
Elizabeth Aubrey
NME