By Spencer Barnett and Connor Hughes-
The announcement of Steve Carell leaving ‘The Office’ left many fans in a state of panic, but now there’s hope.
As of June of 2010, main character Michael Scott (Steve Carell) announced his retirement, NYDailyNews.com. Carell had been star for the past seven seasons of The Office with his corky personality and strange ways of managing a business. Now with the main character spot open, rumor has it that Will Ferrell may be the next one to fill Michael Scott’s shoes.
In an interview with the International Buisness Times, Carell spoke on his departure.
“I just think it’s time … I want to fulfill my contract. When I first signed on I had a contract for seven seasons, and this coming year is my seventh. I just thought it was time for my character to go.”
Steve Carell’s departure left Office addicts wondering who will take Carell’s place. This may not be a permanent fixture, but it should fulfill the needs of some fans. Ferrell will play a branch manager, Deangelo Vickers.
“[Deangelo Vickers] loves the American Southwest,” said Ferrell. “and he’s just kind of in his own way going to step into Michael Scott’s shoes and try to fill them.”
Ferrell and Carell often are a part of the same projects: Carell tried out for ‘Saturday Night Live,’ claiming he lost out to Farrell, and they starred together in 2005’s ‘Bewitched.’
Ferrell’s addition to the show was announced on television in a promo for the show’s new episode, airing April 14th. Michael Scott’s proposal to Holly and the announcement that they were moving to Colorado laid the groundwork for his exit. Carell’s last episode will air on April 28th.
Rainn Wilson, who plays Dwight K. Schrute, gave an inside look at how Ferrell got the part, and what viewers can expect, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly:
“He called us up. He called the producers and said ‘I heard Steve’s leaving and I would like to be a part of his exit some how. I’d like to be there for it.’ So they were like, ‘Hell yeah!’ I think it will be great because Will’s sense of humor is very much in line with our show’s sense of humor.”
Co-star John Krasinski doesn’t think that Ferrell can fill the shoes of the Emmy award-winning actor; in a recent interview with Parade Magazine, he said:
“”No one can replace [Carell]. That goes for him as an actor, because no one has the sense of humor he does, but also there’s no person who has his incredible positivity and professionalism, and just a really good heart. So we’re losing a friend first and foremost.”