Topline
Peacock ordered an unnamed series set in the same universe and style as NBC’s “The Office” that will follow a midwestern newsroom working to revive itself, the network announced Wednesday—marking the latest push from NBC to capitalize on the growing fanbase of the 2000s mockumentary show.
The new ensemble show will follow “a dying historic Midwestern newspaper” and the quest to revive it ... [+]
Key Facts
The series is being made by Greg Daniels—who adapted “The Office” for the U.S. and worked on “Parks and Recreation,” among other NBC shows—and Michael Koman, who co-created “Nathan For You.”
The new show, which is still unnamed, will follow the same documentary crew that filmed “The Office,” but this time as it documents a new subject: “a dying historic Midwestern newspaper and the publisher trying to revive it with volunteer reporters,” according to NBC.
The show will feature an ensemble cast led by Domhnall Gleeson, of “About Time” and “Ex-Machina,” and Sabrina Impacciatore of “The White Lotus,” NBC announced Wednesday, and production is expected to begin in July.
Surprising Fact
Ricky Gervais, who played David Brent—the basis for Steve Carrell’s Michael Scott character—in the original, British version of “The Office,” is signed on as a producer of the new show.
Key Background
Despite it being more than 10 years since “The Office” went off air, NBCUniversal Entertainment’s president Lisa Katz said in a press release “the acclaimed comedy series continues to gain popularity and build new generations of fans on Peacock.” The NBC streaming platform has been the exclusive streaming home for Carell’s “The Office” since 2021. Earlier this year, Daniels began a development room to look into creating a new show that would be set in the same universe as “The Office,” according to The Hollywood Reporter, but the showrunner has said he doesn’t want to do a reboot of the original show or something too similar with a different cast. NBC’s ordering of a mockumentary-esque show comes as ABC is finding success, in terms of both viewership and awards, with “Abbot Elementary,” its version of a workplace-sitcom and mockumentary production.
What We Don’t Know
Many of the details, but most notably when the show will be on Peacock. NBC has yet to announce a premiere date.
