The OfficeCasting Director Says NBC Wanted Philip Seymour Hoffman or Paul Giamatti to Play Michael Scott

Mar. 15, 2025

Philip Seymour Hoffman (left); Steve Carrell as Michael Scott (center); Paul Giamatti (right).Photo:Michael Loccisano/Getty; Mitchell Haaseth/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; Elyse Jankowski/WireImage

Michael Loccisano/Getty; Mitchell Haaseth/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; Elyse Jankowski/WireImage

The Officewe know and love could have looked very different.

Jenna FischerandAngela Kinsey, who played Pam and Angela, respectively, onThe Office, talked to the show’s casting director Allison Jones in the Nov. 6 episode of theirOffice Ladiespodcast. Jones, 69, revealed that NBC originally wanted to go for some big names when casting Michael Scott.

Steve Carrell as Michael Scott in season six of ‘The Office’ in 2010.Byron Cohen/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

But Daniels, 61, wanted the new series to hew pretty closely to the original British series they were remaking. That show had used actors that didn’t look all that dissimilar from actual office workers. Jones explained, “This was the first time other than [casting]Freaks and Geeks, I had the opportunity to get real people who didn’t have to be, you know, vaudeville funny or sitcom funny, which is a very difficult thing to be.”

Jones said that NBC’s desire to attach a “big name” to the show was actually an outlier for the network. “NBC was more into standups at the time,” she said. In fact,Steve Carell, who would ultimately be cast as Michael Scott, was part of one of those stand-up-led shows, Tom Papa’sCome to Papa, meaning he couldn’t audition forThe Office.

“Nancy Perkins, who was the head of casting at NBC Universal, always knew Steve would be a top choice for this,” Jones said. While they tried to cast the show without him, they auditioned others. “We brought in the best of the best,” she explained. “Everybody was a different version of Michael Scott that could have worked.Patton Oswaltcould have worked.Bob Odenkirkwould have been amazing.”

Come to Papawas canceled after four episodes, giving Carell the freedom to joinThe Office.

Kinsey, 53, revealed that she originally auditioned for Pam, and thatKathryn Hahnwas also in the waiting room that day. Jones added, “We had famous people on that couch. I recall it was a small, crappy little couch.”

Angela Kinsey (left) and Jenna Fischer in ‘The Office’ in 2005.Justin Lubin/NBCU Photo Bank

Justin Lubin/NBCU Photo Bank

Kinsey ultimately returned to read for the part that became Angela, though she almost didn’t book it because she was married at the time to Warren Lieberstein, whose sister was married to Daniels. Jones told her on the podcast, “You did not get it because you were related to Greg. You got it because you were really good.”

Jones’ casting skills are legendary amongst comedy fans. She helped put together the ensembles for beloved shows likeFreaks and Geeks,Arrested Development,Parks and Recreation,Veep,Brooklyn Nine-NineandThe Good Placeas well as movies likeBridesmaids,Lady BirdandBarbie.

Jones said one of the secrets to her casting success is that she remembers the people who didn’t book a job and calls them back in. She noted that Kristen Schaal, Zach Woods and Aubrey Plaza were all brought in for The Office. Woods ultimately joined the series late in its run, while Schaal and Plaza were cast in other shows she worked on.

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“If we meet somebody that we think is special or gives a good audition, you cannot wait to bring them again to get them a part,” Jones said of casting. “And sometimes that takes 40 auditions before they get something and you have to just keep bringing them in and bringing them in.”

source: people.com