As the strikes nears an end, studios and networks are prepared to return to work with fresh material and a few recycled ideas as well. The Office is reportedly coming back for a reboot. Or, to be more specific, the U.S. reboot of the U.K. original series may be getting another reboot.
Showrunner Greg Daniels is entertaining the idea of returning to The Office following the end of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, according to Puck, which cited writers Matthew Belloni and Jonathan Handel saying the series creator is considering a revival.
After causing quite a stir online, Belloni offered some clarification to his original statements.
“Right before the strike, Daniels was closing a pact to return to the format and see if he can come up with something worth making,” said Belloni, as reported by Puck. “Now, post-strike, he’ll close the deal and do just that. NBC and Universal Television, which licensed the format from creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, would certainly love to make a new version; they’ve been talking about it for years. But this is still a waaays away.”
The original U.S. version of The Office ran from 2005 to 2013 on NBC and became a huge hit on streaming in subsequent years. A reboot could be a simple musing of its creator or turn into an upcoming project. Daniels has not cemented a deal with any studio or pitched the idea, as all talents are restricted from work until the ink on finalized contract negotiations has dried.
While a tentative agreement has been struck with the WGA and AMPTP, it has yet to be finalized. And until then, any possibility of The Office clocking back in is in limbo.
Assembling the original cast could prove difficult, as the actors have all moved on to other projects or passed away since the final episode. Re-creating the vibe of the original show is another factor that could hinder a remake. Ratings declined after Steve Carell left the series in the seventh season. Writer BJ Novak expressed concerns a reboot could “compromise creativity,” according to ScreenRant.
Still, the thought of Daniels returning to mockumentary television is enticing for many of his fans. Whether he decides on The Office or explores a fresh idea is still anyone’s guess.