A prominent actor from The Office US has expressed that if the iconic series were to be produced in 2025, it would need to undergo significant changes.
The Office, a show with a dedicated fan base, remains a significant part of the cultural landscape for many adults today.
The series originally aired from 2005 through 2013, delivering nine seasons of workplace antics at the Dunder Mifflin paper company.
The charm of the show lies in Dunder Mifflin’s unique culture, Dwight Schrute’s unwavering devotion to Michael Scott, Pam’s romantic involvement with Jim, and Stanley’s notorious disinterest.
Yet, it can be challenging to acknowledge that some of our favorite series might include questionable elements, even when viewed without nostalgia – something Zöe Kravitz pointed out regarding a beloved sitcom from the 90s.
Recently, one of the major stars of The Office shared insights on how the show could sometimes be ‘jaw-droppingly kind of horrific’.
Rainn Wilson, who played Dwight Schrute, noted that if the show were to return in 2025, it would need to be ‘very, very different’.
During an appearance on The Daily Beast’s Last Laugh podcast, he specifically mentioned the episode ‘A Benihana Christmas’, stating: “Listen, you know, the Benihana Christmas episode where Michael and Andy draw with a sharpie on one of the Asian women that they’ve brought back to the Christmas party is jaw-droppingly kind of horrific.
“And it’s a tricky conversation, you know? They’re clueless and, in their cluelessness, they’re racist and insensitive, and they’re always saying the wrong thing.
“And that’s Michael, Dwight and Andy — and Kevin for that matter. So it’s a show based around clueless, insensitive, racist, sexist people that kind of mirrors the United States in a lot of ways.”
He continued: “You want to encourage it, because it’s funny as hell and it also kind of skewers a particular American sensibility. But it definitely goes pretty far if you dig deep.”
Commenting on the potential for this kind of show today, The Meg actor mentioned: “Could it happen today? I think it would have to be very, very different if it were made in this environment.”
Reflecting on past possibilities, Wilson disclosed that there was an intended spinoff centered around Dwight called The Farm, which never materialized.
The spinoff was meant to delve into the story of Dwight and his family managing a beet farm, as hinted in the final season episode titled ‘The Farm’.
Wilson remarked, “Had they taken The Farm, they would probably have another billion dollars in the bank. Even now, all the people that have seen The Office 20 times they are going to watch The Farm at least once or twice.”
He admitted that while The Farm might not have reached the same level as The Office, it could have been ‘a good solid comedy’, and felt there was a missed opportunity.
While a revival of The Office isn’t in the works, a related series called The Paper is now streaming on Peacock.