This Oscar-Winning Actor Almost Played Michael Scott in The Office

He goes by many names: Michael Scott, Michael Scarn, Michael the Magic, Date Mike, Prison Mike, and even Blind Guy McSqueezy (some of the jokes have become a bit dated), but Steve Carell‘s lovable idiot from The Office almost had many other faces, as the show’s casting director was eyeing several Oscar-caliber actors for the part. It’s hard to imagine the US version of The Office without Steve Carell’s Michael Scott – NBC tried to for the final two seasons and it didn’t work. It’s almost guaranteed that the show wouldn’t have become the sitcom monolith it’s now known as without him. But, in an alternate universe, The Office would have been led by some other insanely talented and insanely different actors.

On the latest episode of Office Ladies, hosted by the show’s own Jenna Fischer (Pam) and Angela Kinsey (Angela), casting director Allison Jones revealed that creator Greg Daniels had an extensive list of potential actors for the leading part, and it included some massive names. “I remember vividly the first meeting we had with the network when [creator Greg Daniels] had a list of names,” she began. Long-time fans of the show know that Better Call Saul star, Bob Odenkirk, originally auditioned for the role, but Jones unveiled some new, high-caliber names. She continued:

“And they were like, ‘Let’s try Philip Seymour Hoffman,’ and then, ‘Let’s go for Paul Giamatti or whatever.'”

Allison Jones didn’t reveal exactly why they weren’t cast. However, she did say that a lot of the names didn’t want anything to do with the show because of the perception of comedy within the industry at the time. Not only was The Office a TV series, a medium which was sometimes looked down upon by big-time movie stars, but it was also a comedy, which ranked even further down the arts hierarchy (with interpretive dance obviously being at the top). She said, “nobody did TV. Comedy was the bottom of the barrel.”

NBC Always Wanted Steve Carell for The Office

While Greg Daniels had a long list of other actors, according to Allison Jones, NBC always wanted Steve Carell for the role. “Nancy Perkins, who was the head of casting at NBC Universal, always knew Steve would be a top choice for this,” Jones continued. However, Carell had other commitments, namely the failed seriesCome to Papa. As a result, the network had to look elsewhere in the meantime.

“We had famous people on that couch. I recall it was a small, crappy little couch,” Allison Jones joked. As well as Bob Odenkirk, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Paul Giamatti, Jones also remembered Patton Oswalt auditioning for the role on their “crappy little couch.” While countless actors were brought in for auditions, they all acted out lesser versions of the character that would eventually become Steve Carell’s Michael Scott. She continued:

“We brought in the best of the best. Everybody was a different version of Michael Scott that could have worked. Patton Oswalt could have worked. Bob Odenkirk would have been amazing.”

Release Date

March 24, 2005

Cast

Steve Carell , Jenna Fischer , John Krasinski , Ellie Kemper , Rainn Wilson , Angela Kinsey , Melora Hardin , Rashida Jones , Mindy Kaling , Creed Bratton , B.J. Novak , Ed Helms , Brian Baumgartner

Seasons

9