‘Things Have Changed’: The Office Co-Creator Addresses the Challenges Facing the New Series

Stephen Merchant, who co-created the original The Office series with Ricky Gervais, has shared his thoughts on the new American Office series. Despite being part of a beloved franchise, the co-creator shared that he thinks the new series, reportedly titled The Paper, will have greater challenges to address in its debut season.

During an interview with Collider, Merchant noted that he was “a fan of the American version and I’m a fan of Greg [Daniels], and I’m excited to see what he does. When you make a show, you don’t get to enjoy it in the way an audience does because you’re too excited. So, the idea that there’s going to be this show in this world that we helped create is really thrilling to me.” However, despite the excitement, Merchant noted that “office life now is very different” than it was when the original UK and US series were made.

“One in every three episodes, presumably they’re just on Zoom. If there’s a guy who has a crush on the receptionist, he’ll have to ask the human resources department if he’s allowed to ask her out,” Merchant pointed out. “Things have changed. Office politics have changed. It’s a different world than when we did our version.”

Don’t Expect a New UK Office Series

While the US Office lasted for nine seasons and 201 episodes, the UK Office called it quits after two seasons, each comprising six episodes, and a two-part Christmas special. In the years since its original BBC airing, the UK Office has grown in popularity, leading many fans to wonder if Merchant and Gervais would ever consider reviving the series. Unfortunately, Merchant doesn’t seem all that interested in revisiting the UK Office. “I just think there’s always a danger when you revisit things: can you capture the magic you had the first time? It’s a tough one to do,” Merchant told reporters at the BAFTA TV Awards in May 2024. However, he admitted that he might be more open to the idea once he sees The Paper pans out.

The Office Sequel Series Will Live on Peacock

An Office sequel series was officially ordered by Peacock in May 2024, five years after NBCUniversal first expressed interest in a new series set in the franchise’s beloved universe. Domhnall Gleeson (About Time) and Sabrina Impacciatore (The White Lotus) are currently the only confirmed cast members for The Paper, which will reportedly begin production in July 2024. Steve Carell, who portrayed Michael Scott in the US Office, has already opted out of making a cameo in The Paper, while Dwight Schrute actor Rainn Wilson has admitted to being open to the idea.

In the new series, per the logline, “The documentary crew that immortalized 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.”

All nine seasons of The Office are available for streaming on Peacock.