James Spader, who stepped in this year to fill the huge shoes of departing The Office manager Steve Carell aka Michael Scott, will not be returning to Dunder Mifflin next season.
The Office showrunner Paul Lieberstein confirmed Spader’s exit today and in doing so, wrapped up a one-year stint as enigmatic Dunder Mifflin regional manager Robert California. Lieberstein had nothing but positive things to say about his friend and co-worker Spader, admitting that Spader always envisioned the gig as a single year tenure and successfully helped transition the show away from the Michael Scott years.
With Spader’s exit, Lieberstein and his team will once again be searching for another big personality to step in and fill a gaping void. Last year The Office season finale held interviews with various celebrities in cameo roles, including James Spader. It’s still unclear how Lieberstein will handle this next leadership transition, but expect rumors and speculation to sprinkle out over the next few weeks.
James Spader may not be the only employee giving two weeks notice at Dunder Mifflin. Mindy Kaling, who plays Kelly Kapoor, has a half-hour comedy pilot deal with Fox. If that show gets picked up then expect Kaling to depart, if she hasn’t agreed to already.
In addition, Rainn Wilson is expected to leave The Office mid-next season and star in a spin-off set at Dwight’s beet farm and co-starring the character’s family. While NBC has not formally announced this concept is a done deal, the odds are looking pretty favorable.
If all goes according to plan, James Spader will lead three employees exiting Dunder Mifflin at the end of this season. Maybe The Office: Season 9 premiere should involve a Dunder Mifflin table at a job fair.
Source: Variety
