The Office Revival Reportedly In The Works

Ready for more mishaps and mayhem at Dunder Mifflin?

According to a new report published by TVLine, a revival of The Office is in the works at NBC. Sources close to the outlet confirm that the network is considering bringing the hit workplace comedy back to life for the 2018-2019 television broadcast season. 

If the project goes through, it will, like the original, be set in the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, and will "feature a mix of new and old cast members." But don't get your hopes up too high, Office fanatics: Steve Carell, whose portrayal of the off-the-walls but well-meaning manager Michael Scott earned him multiple Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominations, won't be involved in the new series. NBC is reportedly already looking for another boss to fill those shoes.

Based on the British television series of the same name, The Office ran from 2005 to 2013. The series starred Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute, John Krasinski as Jim Halpert, Jenna Fischer Pam Beesly/Halpert, Leslie David Baker as Stanley Hudson, Brian Baumgartner as Kevin Malone, Angela Kinsey as Angela Martin, Phyllis Smith as Phyllis Vance, Kate Flannery as Meredith Palmer, Creed Bratton as (surprisingly enough) Creed Bratton, Oscar Nuñez as Oscar Martinez, B.J. Novak as Ryan Howard, Mindy Kaling as Kelly Kapoor, Ed Helms as Andy Bernard, Paul Lieberstein as Toby Flenderson, and Craig Robinson as Darryl Philbin. It's unclear which of these actors will return for the possible revival. 

Fischer recently spoke on Variety's "Remote Controlled" podcast and revealed that she doubted a remake or reboot of the show would ever come to fruition. Because the characters already had complete story arcs in the original series, the actress stated she doesn't believe revisiting them would make sense.

"I don't think it'll ever happen," said Fischer. "I would do it if there was some circumstance where everybody got back together, and could be brought back together in some amazing way... but I'm not sure it's realistic. The characters, they had arcs. They had growth. Jim and Pam left Dunder Mifflin. Michael left Dunder Mifflin. And it would be hard to manufacture why all the people were back working together."

She also discussed the fact that all the characters are in different locations at the end of the series, so pulling them back together would be tricky. "I immediately start thinking, 'How did Jim and Pam get back from Austin?' And Michael's living with Holly [Amy Ryan] now," Fischer stated. "It would almost have to be a scenario where it's 'the lost tapes of The Office,' where you somehow go back in time and there's all of these lost stories where we weirdly look five years older."

NBC successfully relaunched the beloved sitcom Will & Grace this year, so perhaps the network can find similar good fortune with a refresh of The Office.