Where was The Paper shot? Revisiting key filming locations of The Office spin-off

It's almost time to tune into a new workplace mockumentary in The Paper, brought to you by the same crew who immortalized Dunder-Mifflin's Scranton branch. This The Office spin-off series, scheduled for a September 4 premiere on Peacock, is created by Greg Daniels (the OG creator of the US version) and Michael Koman (Nathan For You).

The Paper, set in Toledo, Ohio, follows a failing midwestern newspaper, the Toledo Truth-Teller. Once a historic name in the world of journalism, Truth Teller is now fading in the shadows, and the series will feature its workers' hilarious efforts to revive and resurrect it.

The spin-off series is led by Domhnall Gleeson's Ned Sampson, the new editor-in-chief, who takes it upon himself to revive this failing newspaper company. Additional cast includes Sabrina Impacciatore, Chelsea Frei, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Tim Key, and Ramona Young.

While The Paper is set in the Glass City of Ohio, it was shot on various soundstages in Los Angeles, California.

More on this in our story.

Exploring the production details and filming locations for The Paper

The documentary filming crew is moving on from the Electric City of Scranton to the Glass City of Toledo, Ohio. While the spin-off will also follow a similar premise to that of The Office (a workplace mockumentary), Toledo Truth-Teller is a struggling Midwestern newspaper company, unlike Dunder Mifflin, which sold paper and office supplies.

This exciting move to journalism is supported by a geographical change to the city of Toledo. While the spin-off is primarily set in the Glass City, it was shot on the Universal Studios Lot in Los Angeles, California, like the parent sitcom. Reportedly, the crew began filming in June 2024 on the lot and was also visited by many The Office alums like Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, and Angela Kinsey.

Located at 100 Universal City Plaza in Universal City, California, this iconic television and film studio complex is owned by NBCUniversal and is a staple shooting location for many NBC sitcoms, including the upcoming The Paper.

While the crew essentially shot on sound stages that built life-like sets for the Toledo Truth-Teller's office, the real setting of Toledo was given utmost importance. The cast and crew visited real-life newspapers in the Glass City, spending a hefty amount of time on research in Toledo. Additionally, NBC visited The Blade, Toledo’s oldest newsroom, to prepare and research for the spin-off.

This suggests that while the crew shot in LA, attention to detail was important, and the Toledo aesthetic was re-created for the sets. Reports also indicate that the spin-off could include references to Toledo's sports teams, the Walleye and Mud Hens, and local businesses like Jupmode and Jeep.

How is The Paper related to The Office?

A different setting. A different business, and an all-new cast. So, how is The Paper related to the OG sitcom The Office? Daniels explained the connection and revealed that the spin-off series is set in the same universe as that of The Office. The documentary crew that immortalized the Dundler-Mufflin's Scranton Branch set out on a hunt for a new crew, until they stumbled upon the Toledo Truth-Teller.

We bet that a fresh editor trying to revive a struggling midwestern newspaper makes for a good documentary. The Paper is a workplace mockumentary, shot in a similar vein to its predecessor. Additionally, Oscar Nunez (Oscar) will also reprise his character in the spin-off series for a guest appearance, acting as a much-needed link with the Scranton branch.

Breaking down the new yet familiar premise of the spin-off series, Daniels said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter:

"It’s about this struggling Midwestern newspaper that’s much reduced from its glory days...There’s a tremendous history for local papers. The villain here is the internet and the ability to look at everybody’s news for free, and all the ad revenue going to Google."

Tune into The Paper premiere on Peacock on September 4, 2025.

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