Who'll be the new boss in 'The Office'?
The cast of "The Office," from left, Angela Kinsey as Angela Martin, Brian Baumgertner as Kevin Malone, Will Ferrell as Deangelo Vickers, Jenna Fischer as Pam Beesly, Steve Carell as Michael Scott and John Krakinski as Jim Halpert. Credit: NBC
As long ago as last spring, Steve Carell was broadly hinting at plans to leave "The Office" after this, its seventh, season to concentrate on movies. Recently he shot his last episode, which will air late this month.
And then . . . who will take over for Carell's character, dippy Michael Scott, at Dunder Mifflin's Scranton office? It's known that Will Ferrell will step in starting next Thursday for this season's last few episodes, playing Michael Scott's provisional replacement.
A theory came and went recently proposing that Ferrell would stick around as a permanent cast member. But he's a busy and highly successful movie star. He seems a long shot to be tied down to a series.
An alternate theory: "The Office" might promote from within, filling the void with a member of the show's large existing cast.
Needless to say, the show's network and studio are mum on their long-term plans, which might not reveal themselves until next season is under way.
