The Office spinoff is taking shape as more cast members have been added to the series. A reimagining of the popular UK series, The Office debuted on NBC in 2005 and has endured as a beloved television classic and a staple of viewers’ streaming habits. The Office was a critical hit that ran for nine seasons and launched the careers of some of Hollywood’s biggest talents, like Steve Carell, John Krasinski, and Mindy Kaling. Work on a spinoff series gained traction earlier this year when it was confirmed that Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore would lead the series, which hails from original Office creator Greg Daniels and Michael Koman.
Deadline reveals three new cast members have been added to the Peacock series: Melvin Gregg (Snowfall), Chelsea Frei (Poker Face), and Ramona Young (Never Have I Ever, Legends of Tomorrow). The report also revealed some plot details for the show, specifically that it will not be a reboot of the franchise but set within the same universe and pick up following the events of the original series. The new series will revolve around the documentary crew that immortalized Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch as they search for a new subject, which leads them to discover a dying historic Midwestern newspaper and the publisher trying to revive it with volunteer reporters.
This Isn’t the First Attempt at a Spinoff of The Office
This isn’t the first attempt to mount a spinoff of The Office. Parks and Recreation began as a spinoff before it was developed into a standalone series. There was also The Farm, a planned spinoff that would have revolved around Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) running a bed and breakfast. While NBC ordered the pilot, they did not pick up the series and instead modified and aired it in Season 9 as the episode “The Farm.” The Office later retroactively established itself as part of the same universe as the original UK series when Ricky Gervais reprised his role as David Brent in Season 7 episodes “The Seminar” and “Search Committee.” This means that both versions of The Office and now the spinoff series all take place within the same shared universe.
The biggest question over the new Office spinoff is if it will be given the chance to take off the same way the original series did back in 2005. The Office originally premiered as a mid-season replacement but did not find its creative voice until Season 2. The series saw massive growth in its second season because it was allowed time to develop, but in the age of streaming, many shows are not being given that chance. The streaming series needs to make a big splash immediately, or it risks being canceled. The Office spinoff will likely draw in viewers based on the connection, but it won’t be given the same benefit of the doubt the original series was in the 2000s. Thankfully, Peacock has assembled a talented cast of actors who seem more than up to the task of creating something unique with a similar tone to the beloved original series.