If you're a fan of the US incarnation of beloved sitcom The Office and, like many of us, were living in hope for a reunion, you may want to look away now - Steve Carrell has confirmed he is not up for taking part in any continuation of the show.
In an interview with TIME, Carrell said he has no plans of reviving his character Michael Scott - the... umm, 'emotionally clumsy' boss of Dunder Mifflin's Scranton branch. Why? Because he loves the role 'too much' to go back to it.
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Wait, what?
He said: "I've never thought of it as a good idea. I think it existed in that time and with those people and it felt right.
"There was something so special about it, and I guess it's an odd way to put it, but I love it too much to ever want to do it again. It's too special to me in my heart in that period of time."
However, Carell did tell the publication that he knew the NBC sitcom had great potential from day one.
"I remember it was the first week we were shooting the pilot, and Jenna [Fischer] and John [Krasinski] and Rainn [Wilson] and I went out to lunch... just the four of us," he said.
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"We were sitting in this little diner in Culver City, and I remember saying, 'Guys, if this works, this could be the most special thing that any of us are ever involved with.'"
But even if Carrell has other plans, his fellow cast members have said they would be up for reviving their former characters.
Even with his Hollywood success with the 2018 horror movie A Quiet Place, John Krasinski told Indiewire: "I love that idea, coming back [and] finding out where everybody is. I would totally be down for that."
Even with Carrell off the cards, NBC has made it clear in the past that there would be some interest in renewing the series, which drew to a close back in 2013.
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Earlier this year it was reported the network had plans to work on a new series for 2018-2019, following the successful return of Will & Grace, according to TVLine.
The new series would apparently 'feature a mix of new and old cast members', however this would all be done without Carrell - well, we can't have everything.
NBC president Bob Greenblatt previously stated: "I've talked to Greg [Daniels, show creator] four times over the past few years. It's always, 'Maybe someday, but not now.'"
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OK, that might not be the answer we've all been hoping for, but there does seem to be room in the pipeline for The Office to make a return. Watch this space.
Featured Image Credit: NBC/The OfficeTopics: Entertainment, TV and Film, News, TV, The Office, US