Tag Archives: The Office spin-off

‘Office’ spin-off ‘The Farm’ starring Rainn Wilson is a no-go at NBC

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Well darn. Looks like we’ll really have to say goodbye to The Office and all its characters this May when the series comes to an end. NBC has decided not to go forward with an Office spin-off called The Farm which was going to follow Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute on his beet farm running a bed & breakfast with his family. Wilson and Office executive producer and star Paul Lieberstein shared excitement at the potential for such a spin-off for the character earlier this year. But alas, the idea has been scraped. Wilson tweeted, “NBC has passed on moving forward with The Farm TV show. Had a blast making the pilot – onwards & upwards!”

As previously reported, a future episode of The Office serves as a back-door pilot for The Farm and takes place at Schrute Farms. The network still plans on airing the episode later this year, so at least we’ll all get a glimpse of where things might have headed.

‘The Office’ spin-off starring Dwight Schrute in the works at NBC?

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Yes, a spin-off series to The Office is in development at NBC. According to Deadline, Office showrunner Paul Lieberstein (who also executive produces and plays Toby) and star Rainn Wilson are imagining a new show with Dwight Schrute at the center of it. The spin-off would take place at Dwight’s beet farm, which also serves as a bed & breakfast. “Paul and Rainn have been joking for years about Dwight’s life on the farm, his family and how ill-suited he is to run a B&B,” spills a source to Deadline. “A while ago, it started to feel like a show to them. NBC agreed, it’s been further developed to include multiple generations, many cousins and neighbors. At its base it will be about a family farm struggling to survive and a family trying to stay together.” If this all comes together, Lieberstein and Wilson will executive produce along with Office producers Ben Silverman and Howard Klein; Office creator Ricky Gervais and developer Greg Daniels will not be involved with the project.

Once NBC gives the green light, viewers will soon become aware of Dwight’s departure from the Dunder Mifflin Sabre office. Per Deadline an episode will air later this season set at Schrute Farms that will introduce the spin-off. Dwight will be featured in season nine (if The Office is renewed for another season, of course), and he will make his grand exit just in time for a 2013 midseason spin-off premiere. Wilson recently told critics that “We’re talking about a Dwight spinoff that could be really cool.” He added, “It would have a crazy menagerie of characters. It would be even more far out and weird than The Office.” Mose better be one of those characters.

The Office has been admittedly lackluster since Steve Carrel left the show last year. With a major character such as Dwight potentially leaving next year, does this spell the beginning of the end for the long-running series? Office fans, sound off in the comments below.

[Via Deadline; TVLine]