It will be incredibly difficult for The Paper to compete with America’s version of The Office, and even more so to find a replacement for Michael Scott. The first-ever trailer for one of Peacock’s most anticipated series yet was released on August 7 and gave us a sneak peek into the show’s overall tone, new stars, and one returning Office actor Oscar Nunez.
Over a decade after the premiere of The Office series finale, The Paper will release on September 4. While The Paper’s trailer has been met with optimism, it remains to be seen whether the series will attempt to compete with The Office or forge a path all its own. Regardless, The Paper’s writers have already made one smart move.
The Paper Is Not Using Domhnall Gleeson’s Character To Replace Michael Scott
Michael Scott will go down in history as one of TV’s most complex, well-rounded characters. He may have started out conceited and incompetent, but throughout the series, he transformed into a naïve, lovable, insecure, hopeless romantic. With a character arc unlike any other, The Paper would be hard-pressed to find someone to replace such an iconic lead.
There was only one instance where a “replica” of Michael Scott made sense. In the final season of The Office, Bob Odenkirk, who the casting directors initially considered for Michael in the NBC sitcom, appeared as a copy-cat-Scott. From The Paper’s trailer, it seems that the writers have steered away from attempting to create another Michael.
Domhnall Gleeson plays Ned Sampson, the new editor-in-chief at the Toledo Truth-Teller, a dull newspaper branch, where he attempts to revive a dwindling industry. Where Michael Scott was goofy and over-the-top, Ned is cool, calm, and collected. The Paper didn’t choose Gleeson to replace Steve Carell. In fact, Gleeson’s casting perfectly fits the spin-off’s flipped premise.
How The Paper Is Flipping The Premise Of The Office
The Paper has been described as a mockumentary-style series taking place in the same universe as The Office that will follow a group of dysfunctional coworkers in a fading industry. However, The Paper has one particular element that sets it apart from its predecessor: it reverses the roles of its cast.
While Michael Scott was the bumbling boss and those under him were relatively normal, The Paper seems to portray the exact opposite. Domhnall Gleeson switches up the narrative this time around. His character is optimistic, but clearly capable, while his subordinates will no doubt be the ones to give him trouble with their eccentric personalities and quirky workplace habits.
With its dry, on-the-nose humor and surprisingly complex characters, the American remake of The Office remains a pillar of contemporary comedy. The Paper‘s choice to complement the original series, rather than compete with it, is the best decision they could’ve made.
The Paper
- Release Date
-
September 4, 2025
- Writers
-
Greg Daniels, Michael Koman
