Stephen Merchant Addresses The Office Spin-Off, Possible Return as Logan’s Mutant Tracker

Stephen Merchant seems genuinely excited (“that’s what she said!”) about and is actually “looking forward” to The Office spin-off series. The co-creator — who developed the comedy along with star Ricky Gervais — behind the United Kingdom’s original take on The Office, which was later reworked for American audiences by Greg Daniels, attended the British Academy Television awards on May 12. And Merchant was asked for his thoughts on the latest iteration of the successful television series. Merchant said (per Deadline):

“I don’t know anything more than you guys.
I genuinely don’t […] They just make us sign bits of paperwork to say they can do it, and
I’m looking forward to it.
And I like the exciting world of… I like the idea that it’s within the universe of The Office, but not necessarily in the same office.
I just hope they represent what office life must be like now.
I guess the whole s
how will just be on Zoom, and people only come in like twice a week.

The Office (U.S.)

Release Date

March 24, 2005

Cast

Steve Carell , Jenna Fischer , John Krasinski , Ellie Kemper , Rainn Wilson , Angela Kinsey , Melora Hardin , Rashida Jones , Mindy Kaling , Creed Bratton , B.J. Novak , Ed Helms , Brian Baumgartner

Seasons

9

Developer

Greg Daniels

Merchant served as a presenter for Best Drama at this year’s BAFTA TV awards, and he is coming off his 2023 nomination for Best Male Performance in a Comedy Program thanks to his extraordinary work in The Outlaws. But it was on the red carpet today that Merchant also addressed the possibility of reprising his role as the Mutant Caliban, who he portrayed in 2017’s Logan, starring alongside Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine.

Stephen Merchant Addresses UK Office Spin-Off, Possibly Reprising Caliban Role

A spin-off of The Office is in the works, but Stephen Merchant isn’t quite sure that a similar spin-off would work if applied to the UK version of The Office. While still appearing on the red carpet at today’s BAFTA TV awards, Merchant was asked by the same reporter if a similar approach might be attempted to follow-up on the UK’s version of The Office in the future. Merchant said in the same interview:

“You know, maybe.
I’m interested to see how this one works.
I just think there’s always a danger, isn’t there, when you revisit things:
Can you capture the magic that you had the first time?
It’s a tough one to do.
I think it’s probably wise doing it in
another office with different characters.
That seems like a better smart way. But we’ll see how they get on.
Obviously, I wish them well.”

Related

The Office: The Funniest Episodes of the Series, Ranked

As one of the best shows of all time, The Office includes some truly hilarious episodes. Here are the funniest.

Back in 2022, Merchant stated he wanted to play Caliban again. And on the BAFTA’s red carpet today, he addressed the possibility of reprising the Mutant role once more. With the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine movie opening up the multiverse even more, it certainly isn’t impossible to imagine Caliban coming back. And here’s what Merchant had to say on the subject, courtesy of an interview with On Demand Entertainment:

“That goes to show, doesn’t it?
That just because you kill someone off in something,
it doesn’t mean anything anymore […]
I haven’t had the call for
Logan,

but I’m happy to shave my head again and spend four hours in make-up to play an albino mutant freak.
I’m waiting for that call.”