An upcoming series set in the same universe as The Office has found a streaming home at Peacock, and has been picked up to series, according to Variety. The new show, which does not yet have an official title, has added Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore to its cast, and has a plot synopsis that indicates it is not a spinoff but is set in the same universe as The Office. The series appears to feature the same documentary crew as the original show and follows their search for a new subject, leading them to a historic Midwest newspaper and its publisher attempting to revitalize it with volunteer reporters.
Similar to NBC’s Parks And Recreation, which was also set in the Midwest, the new series set in The Office universe will focus on a fresh setting ripe for comedic storytelling. It is unclear whether the new show will have any direct connections to the original American Office or if the only link will be the documentary crew concept. Production on the series is set to begin in July of this year, with Greg Daniels, who developed the American version of The Office, co-creating the new series with Michael Koman. The team also includes executive producers Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, as well as Howard Klein, Ben Silverman, and Banijay Americas.
The American version of The Office, based on the classic UK series created by Gervais and Merchant, premiered in 2005 and starred Steve Carrell as the manager of a paper company branch in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The show featured a talented ensemble cast including Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, and Jenna Fischer. After more than a decade since the final episode aired, the show continues to grow in popularity attracting new audiences through its presence on Peacock. The new series will introduce a fresh cast of characters in a daily newspaper setting, continuing the comedic storytelling style of the original mockumentary format.
Lisa Katz, the president of NBCUniversal Entertainment, expressed excitement for the upcoming series, stating that The Office continues to gain popularity and attract new generations of fans. The collaboration with Universal Television, helmed by the creative team of Greg Daniels and Michael Koman, promises a new comedic story set in the universe of Dunder Mifflin. The plot of the new series centers on the documentary crew seeking a new subject, leading them to the struggling Midwest newspaper and its efforts to stay afloat with volunteer reporters. The new show is expected to offer a fresh take on the mockumentary style popularized by The Office.
Despite the new show not being a direct spinoff of The Office, the connections it shares to the original series through the documentary crew concept and comedic storytelling style are sure to draw in fans of the beloved show. With production scheduled to start in July, fans can anticipate more details about the cast and story of the upcoming series set in The Office universe. As NBC chooses to bring the show to its streaming service, Peacock, rather than a traditional broadcast spot, the new home may provide opportunities to explore connections to the original series and further engage audiences. Peacock continues to keep fans engaged with The Office by releasing extended episodes with previously unreleased scenes, ensuring that the beloved show remains popular and relevant among viewers.
