The Office Creator Explains Why Only One Star Made It To The Paper Spin-Off

If you were hoping The Paper would sneak in a full Office reunion, I have bad news. The new Peacock spin-off lands this week, and the only returning face from Dunder Mifflin is Oscar Nunez. That is very much by design.

Why only Oscar is back

Greg Daniels, who created the U.S. version of The Office, says bringing Oscar back made sense after that finale. Most of the Scranton crew had tidy send-offs and moved on; Oscar Martinez, meanwhile, was basically where he started, still at Dunder Mifflin and ripe for more story. Daniels also just flat-out loves what Nunez does on camera, and The Paper co-creator Michael Koman echoed it: Oscar fits into any ensemble and quietly makes everyone around him funnier. Plus, among Office characters, his arc was the most open-ended.

'Most of the cast, their stories had closure, and I don't think they really want to open them up again just to guest on another show. It was very important for me to create a show that would stand on its own and make its own name for itself and not need guest stars from the old show every week to get [people to] tune in.'

Translation: do not expect surprise drop-ins from Michael, Jim, Pam, or Dwight. This is not a cameo carousel. Inside baseball-wise, that tracks with how protective creators get about finales and character endpoints.

So what is The Paper?

Another documentary crew, new stomping grounds. This time they are embedded at The Toledo Truth Teller, a failing newspaper in Ohio. Different workplace, same mockumentary DNA. And yes, Oscar is not thrilled to see a camera crew again. The trailer teases him muttering: 'Not again.' Then he levels up the threat: 'I'm not agreeing to any of this. I will make this unusable.'

Who is in it

• Oscar Nunez as Oscar Martinez, back in front of the doc crew
• Domhnall Gleeson as the editor-in-chief
• Sabrina Impacciatore (The White Lotus) as a reporter
• Chelsea Frei
• Melvin Gregg
• Ramona Young
• Gbemisola Ikumelo
• Alex Edelman

When and where to watch

The Paper starts streaming on Peacock on September 4.