A new series of beloved comedy The Office could potentially be in the works but featuring all-new characters and settings.
Greg Daniels, who adapted The Office for NBC, which was based on the original UK version, written by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, has set up a development room filled by a team of trusted writers to explore new ideas, according to reports in the US.
It is believed that any new series wouldn’t be a reboot of the US version, which ended in 2013 after nine hugely successful seasons, but involve a new office at a new company with new characters – although it would exist in the same universe as the original show.
Daniels did reportedly say that the premise of the workers being filmed for a documentary could still be used.
NBC would also be interested in taking a new series, given how big a hit it was at the time and its continuing popularity on streaming services and around the world in syndication. The show first aired in 2005, with an ensemble cast led by Steve Carrell, and followed the misadventures of the employees of the Pennsylvania branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. James Spader took over the lead role following Carrell’s departure in season seven.
There have been rumours about continuing the series almost as soon as the original finished, and although Daniels has always been steadfast in not wanting to reboot the series with new actors playing the original characters, he has been more open to continuing it in another way.
With news of a development room being formed, it would seem that continuation is now a step closer. But it is by no means certain that a new series will result from this – the team is about thinking of and developing ideas, and it could peter out to nothing, which isn’t uncommon in sitcom development.
