With Steve Carell exiting The Office before season’s end, the producers promised that viewers could expect the introduction of new characters in the wake of Michael Scott’s departure. Following Ricky Gervais’ quick cameo this week, funnyman Will Ferrell will reunite with his Anchorman co-star later this season for a lengthier four-episode arc. According to Deadline, Ferrell “will play a branch manager who comes from the home office and is just as inappropriate as Steve Carell’s Michael Scott character.” He will work alongside Scott for three episodes and his character will remain with the Office gang for one additional episode post-Scott’s departure “to help create a bridge” between the old and new (still undisclosed) boss.
The Office’s executive producer Paul Lieberstein (who also plays HR rep Toby Flenderson) had this to say about the Ferrell addition: “We found Steve Carell when he was nothing but a movie star and we turned him into a television star. We are proud to continue The Office’s tradition of discovering famous talent, and we hope that once America gets a good look at Will, they’ll see what we see, tremendous raw sexuality.”
Oh, and I just thought of this. If the producers decide to bring David Koechner’s Todd Packer into the mix, we’ll have ourselves an even mightier Anchorman reunion.
Update: Rainn Wilson (aka Dwight Schrute) commented on Ferrell’s Office visit and what’s in store for the show post-Michael Scott; hop after the break for some quotes!
Wilson confirmed to EW that Ferrell will not become the next Office boss: “Will is coming in as a possible boss but everyone knows he is not going to stay because he makes $20 million a film,” Wilson said. “He’s got other fish to fry. He called us up. He called the producers and said ‘I heard Steve’s leaving and I would like to be a part of his exit some how. I’d like to be there for it.’ So they were like, ‘Hell’s yeah!’ I think it will be great because Will’s sense of humor is very much in line with our show’s sense of humor.”
It’s been hinted at before, and Wilson continues to lament the fact the the show’s dynamic will certainly change after Michael Scott’s departure. “I think the show is going to need to change what it is to succeed,” Wilson said. “Losing Steve is big. Not having Michael Scott around will change the dynamic and the show and I think we will need to change in order to not have the audience feel that void every week. I think it will be interesting to see what happens. I think it will be forced to become even more of an ensemble show. I think we will have more interesting arcs with guest stars.” He continued, “Holly is leaving again soon. But it has been strange this year with them planning for Michael’s exit. The pace is much more frenetic and things keep getting adjusted and changed and we are only working a few weeks in advance now. The ground is shifting so rapidly. Interesting times at Dunder Mifflin.”
Lastly he talked about what’s to come for his character Dwight: “I hear that Angela’s boyfriend the senator may not be all he is cracked up to be, and maybe that will open the door for a Dwight and Angela reunion.”