The Office: Steve Carell’s Return for Sitcom Finale Was Kept Secret from NBC Execs

(Photo: NBC)

The Office ended in May 2013 with a big surprise. Steve Carell, aka socially awkward regional manager Micheal Scott, exited the comedy after seven seasons but returned for the final episode of the NBC comedy. It has now been revealed that Crell’s return was kept secret from NBC executives and even some of the cast members until the day his scenes were filmed. NBC executives didn’t learn of his return until the day before the episode aired.

Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, B. J. Novak, Melora Hardin, David Denman, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Ed Helms, Mindy Kaling, Paul Lieberstein, Creed Bratton, Craig Robinson, and Ellie Kemper star in the NBC comedy, which aired for nine seasons on the network. The story follows the work and personal lives of the employees of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company office in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

According to EW, the details of the finale reveal come from Fischer in a recent podcast. She said the following:

“They had a scene at our table read … but it was a placeholder. Greg Daniels was afraid that if he turned in any footage of Steve Carell on the show before it aired that NBC would make promos out of it and ruin the surprise.

But Steve was reluctant. He felt like Michael’s story had really ended. He didn’t want to open it back up again, and he especially did not wanna come back after two years and have this finale episode be about him. It was a creative reason that was supported by history, you know.”

Fischer and Krasinski knew about plans for Carell’s return in advance but were sworn to secrecy. Fischer didn’t even tell her close friend, Kinsey, who found out on the day of filming.

“The set PA turned to me and said, ‘Steve is here.’ … I said, ‘What?’ Kinsey said. “And I opened the door, and there he was — he was sitting in hair and makeup.”

A sequel series, set in the same universe as the original, is headed to Peacock, but a premiere date has not yet been announced.

What do you think? Are you a fan of this NBC series? Were you surprised by Carell’s return?