The Office's Dwight Actor: Carell's Exit Hurt Show's Future

"The Office" star Rainn Wilson admitted that continuing the hit comedy series without lead actor Steve Carell, who left two seasons before the final episode, was a real challenge.

Wilson, who played Dwight Schrute, told Variety that Carell's departure didn't surprise the rest of the cast, as the actor portraying their boss was already in high demand for film roles. "We had seen it coming for quite a while," Wilson explained.

Even so, the show struggled to regain its footing after the exit of Carell's character, Michael Scott—a period Wilson described as "somewhat chaotic" behind the scenes.

"Once Steve left, things did get a little chaotic," Wilson said. "We had to figure out the tone of the show, decide who would take the lead, and determine how to tell these stories without the show's main comedic engine, Michael Scott, and without one of America's finest comic actors at the center of it all. It was definitely a struggle."

Carell was already a well-known movie star before "The Office," having appeared in "Anchorman" and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" before taking on the role of Dunder Mifflin's now-famous regional manager.

However, it was "The Office" that truly boosted Carell’s career—just as it later did for Wilson and fellow cast member John Krasinski.

After Carell's departure, the final seasons introduced new senior characters played by James Spader and Catherine Tate. The series concluded by wrapping up the original characters' storylines—culminating in Dwight's wedding to his longtime love interest Angela, a moment marked by Carell's long-awaited cameo.

Next up for "The Office" fans is a new spinoff, "The Paper," set to premiere this September. Co-created by producer Greg Daniels and starring Domhnall Gleeson, the show will use the same mockumentary format—this time set in the office of a struggling local newspaper—and will feature Oscar from "The Office" in a recurring role.

Carell has previously confirmed he will not be part of "The Paper," stating there would be "no real reason" for Michael Scott to appear.