“Ugh, don’t do it”: Paul Rudd Didn’t Want Steve Carell to Replace Ricky Gervais in Popular NBC Sitcom
In the vast world of comedy masterpieces, casting decisions can make or destroy a show. Paul Rudd who is now iconically known for his Marvel character once advised Steve Carell not to sign up for the famous character from The Office.
The U.S. adaptation of The Office, starring Steve Carell in one of the key roles is the actor’s career. But this might have not happened if Carell had heeded Paul Rudd’s advice. The Marvel star didn’t want the actor to play the main character as he believed it was a bad move.
Paul Rudd Advised Steve Carell Not to Take a Role in The Office
The U.S. adaptation of The Office is still known as one of Steve Carell‘s best shows. However, the actor could have missed this incredible opportunity forever if he had followed Marvel star Paul Rudd‘s counsel. As the original U.K. version of the television series earned immense success and reputation, remaking the U.S. adaptation was a bit risky. Rudd doubted the American adaptation could match the triumph of the original series. According to the new book, Welcome to Dunder Mifflin: The Ultimate Oral History of The Office via Collider Rudd said:
“Ugh, don’t do it. Bad, bad move. I mean, it’s never going to be as good [as the British version]”
Despite the initial doubts and thoughts, Carell moved forward with portraying Michael Scott and this role astonishingly garnered the actor a household name. The show ran for successful nine seasons on NBC and throughout the season Carell’s character evolved and viewers got to see a humourous and complex character at the same time. Steve Carell’s portrayal of the chronically socially unaware boss from NBC’s genre-defining office sitcom was widely acclaimed and considered one of the actor’s iconic roles.
Steve Carell’s Continous Triumph After The Office
Even though The Office enthusiasts who still watch the show when they want some best sitcom content must know that the series was punctuated with success after success. Another noteworthy aspect is that, while Steve Carell was being recognized for slaying the role of the socially awkward regional manager, he also co-wrote and played the lead role in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, elevating his film career from one of the side characters such as his roles in Anchorman and Bruce Almighty comparable to that of a prominent leading figure.
In the forthcoming years, Carell helmed many other hit projects and even lent his voice to animated films, most notably as Gru, the anti-hero of the now-titanic Despicable Me franchise. The Foxcatcher star also lent his voice to other notable projects like Over the Hedge and the 2008 version of Horton Hears a Who.
Steve Carell’s departure from The Office undeniably didn’t mark an end in his career, but it was indeed an emotional journey for the entire cast to film the last season of their successful show. In the podcast An Oral History of The Office, the Bruce Almighty star expressed his The Office journey:
“fraught with emotion and joy and sadness and nostalgia. But it was also really beautiful because it did allow me to have a kind of finality with everybody.”
The actor after departing from The Office series continued to flaunt his comedic talent in various films, notably in the Despicable Me franchise and reverting to one of his cherished roles as Brick Tamland in Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.
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The Office is available to stream on Netflix.
