Domhnall Gleeson’s ‘The Paper’ Has Big Shoes to Fill—But He’s Ready

Domhnall Gleeson is stepping into new comedic territory with The Paper, a spin-off of The Office set to premiere in September 2025. While the show exists in the same universe as the beloved mockumentary, Gleeson is making it clear, his character is nothing like Michael Scott or David Brent.

In a recent interview with People, Gleeson addressed inevitable comparisons to Steve Carell and Ricky Gervais, saying, “I don’t think my character is like Michael Scott at all. I think if you’re trying to compete with what Steve did or with what Ricky Gervais did, I think it would be a massive mistake.” He emphasized that The Paper is forging its own path, adding, “We made a whole new character. And it’s a whole new sort of setup, but I hope people will find a reason to love him as well, just in a different way than they did the guys before.”

The series, co-created by The Office mastermind Greg Daniels and Michael Koman, follows the staff of The Truth Teller, a struggling Midwestern newspaper fighting to stay afloat in the digital age. Gleeson plays Ned, an ambitious publisher determined to revive the paper, leading a cast that includes Sabrina Impacciatore, Melvin Gregg, Ramona Young, and Oscar Nuñez, reprising his role as Oscar Martinez from The Office.

Despite the familiar mockumentary format, The Paper is not a reboot or continuation of The Office. Instead, it shifts focus to a different workplace dynamic, exploring the challenges of modern journalism with fresh characters and new comedic energy.

Before The Paper hits screens, Gleeson will also appear alongside Julianne Moore and Sydney Sweeney in Apple TV+’s thriller Echo Valley, premiering this Friday.

With Daniels at the helm and a talented ensemble cast, The Paper is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated comedies of the year. Whether fans embrace it as warmly as The Office remains to be seen, but Gleeson is confident his character will stand on his own.

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook Instagram Twitter(X) YouTube TikTok