The Office creator Greg Daniels talks about the pressure of returning to set with The Paper 

Mentioning The Office means recalling a turning point in television comedy. The series became part of popular culture, and its characters remain widely remembered. Greg Daniels has often been asked if a reboot would ever happen, and he explained that those questions have followed him for about eight years, creating a constant sense of anxiety. As he put it,

“Well, I've had anxiety about it, you know, for like eight years ever since people started asking me about doing a reboot.”

What he clarified in the recent conversation is that his new project is not a reboot but something different from what came before.

The return to the mockumentary format brings an immediate sense of recognition, but Daniels insisted that the focus is not on repeating old formulas. His goal is to present new characters in a new setting while keeping the same observational tone that helped define his earlier work. That combination places The Paper in a unique position, connected to a tradition but not dependent on it. He admitted that this distinction, making sure the audience knows it is not a revival, was important in reducing the weight of expectation.

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A new proposal

The Paper was introduced as a documentary-style comedy created by the same crew that once worked on The Office. Instead of revisiting familiar figures, Daniels emphasized exploring different personalities. He described the writing process for these new characters as enjoyable and noted that the work was lighter than expected considering the pressure of comparisons. He explained that developing stories for people who had never appeared on screen before gave him a sense of creative freedom.

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Not a reboot of The Office

Daniels stated clearly that The Paper is not a continuation of The Office. It is a new series, with new characters, although it keeps the mockumentary approach that audiences recognize. He emphasized this distinction by saying,

“But this isn't a reboot. It's a new documentary from the same crew and exploring new characters was actually very fun.”

He explained that the enjoyment came from matching jokes and characters with a new cast, which made the return to the set less stressful and more rewarding.

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Partnership with Michael Coleman

The collaboration with Michael Coleman was another point highlighted by Daniels. He said that working together again was a joy. In his words,

“Working with Michael Coleman, who created the show with me, was a joy.”

The creative exchange, including the shaping of characters and situations, turned the initial anxiety into a positive experience. According to Daniels, building the new series with Coleman was one of the most satisfying parts of the process, especially after years of carrying questions about The Office and whether it would ever return.

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The tradition of character comedy

Daniels also spoke about the kind of comedy that has always shaped his career. He mentioned classics like The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Jack Benny, and Cheers as part of the tradition he follows. In his view, all of them are variations of character-driven comedy. That format, he said, has always appealed to him because it creates space for personalities to define the humor rather than relying on episodic gags. He underlined that the structure of comedy often comes alive when multiple perspectives and distinct voices share the stage, something that also defined The Office and continues to guide his approach.

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The value of an ensemble cast

Another aspect Daniels underlined was the importance of ensemble casts. He explained that writing becomes easier when the group is diverse and full of different perspectives. This was central to The Office and returns as a key element in The Paper. For him, comedy flows more naturally from the interaction of several interesting characters instead of depending on a single protagonist. He described ensembles as a way to expand the world of a show, since each character can generate unexpected directions for stories and humor.

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Parallels with the industry

There was also a reflection on the settings of his shows. Daniels recalled that in The Office, the characters were selling paper in a world already shaped by digital devices. For The Paper, the focus shifts to journalism, another field under pressure but still essential. He observed that the people who remain in this profession are optimistic and dedicated, which makes them engaging to write about. The choice of this environment links the humor to something real, connecting workplace comedy to industries that continue to face constant change.

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Fans and continuity

At the end of the conversation, Daniels acknowledged the role of the audience. He said he was happy to see fans still interested in older characters and new stories. That response, according to him, keeps the space open for projects that continue in the same line of comedy he values. The Office may have defined an era, but The Paper arrives with the intention of opening another chapter in the same tradition. His comments suggested a confidence that the creative path chosen will allow both projects to exist side by side without overshadowing the other.