Steve Carell thinks The Office return is impossible in Time's Up era: 'The climate's different'

The Michael Scott actor doesn't think a revival of the hit sitcom is a good idea

Steve Carell has suggested that a revival of hit series The Office wouldn't work in the era of Time's Up.

The actor played bumbling boss Michael Scott across all nine seasons of the US version of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's beloved sitcom. After starting with middling ratings in 2005, the show went on to earn acclaim and awards recognition up until its climax in 2013.

Following its addition to Netflix a legion of new fans called for its revival, sparked further by stars Jenna Fischer and John Krasinski. Carell, however, doesn't think it's such a good idea.

“Because The Office is on Netflix and replaying, a lot more people have seen it recently. And I think because of that there’s been a resurgence in interest in the show, and talk about bringing it back,“ he said in an interview with Esquire.

“But apart from the fact that I just don’t think that’s a good idea, it might be impossible to do that show today and have people accept it the way it was accepted ten years ago. The climate’s different. I mean, the whole idea of that character, Michael Scott, so much of it was predicated on inappropriate behaviour."

He continued: “I mean, he’s certainly not a model boss. A lot of what is depicted on that show is completely wrong-minded. That’s the point, you know? But I just don’t know how that would fly now. There’s a very high awareness of offensive things today — which is good, for sure. But at the same time, when you take a character like that too literally, it doesn’t really work.”

In an interview with The Independent, Krasinski supported the idea of a revival, saying: “I would totally do it. I can genuinely say I’ve never been in anything like it. I remember bumping into people who’d been on other television shows and were like, ‘So which year did you get sick of each other?’ We never did. It kind of felt like we were in a repertory theatre together. We all look forward to the day we can do it again. Hopefully we can find a way.”

The Office, adapted for American audiences by Greg Daniels, also starred Rainn Wilson, Mindy Kaling and BJ Novak. All nine seasons are available to watch in the UK on Amazon Prime.

Carell will next be seen opposite Timothee Chalamet in Beautiful Boy, which is set to be released in the UK on 18 January following its premiere at the BFI London Film Festival tomorrow night (13 October).