The Paper: 7 Shocking Details About The Office Spinoff That Will Define The Next Era Of Mockumentary

The long-awaited expansion of The Office universe is finally here, and it's not what you expected. After years of speculation and rumors, the official spin-off series, titled The Paper, is set to premiere in Fall 2025, shifting the focus from paper distribution to the high-stakes, low-budget world of a Midwestern newspaper. This new mockumentary, helmed by original co-creator Greg Daniels and Michael Koman, promises to bring the same cringe-worthy humor and heartfelt character moments that made Dunder Mifflin a cultural phenomenon, but with a fresh, entirely new set of workplace dynamics for a modern audience to explore. The series has a confirmed premiere date and a full cast list, proving this is the most significant development for fans since the original series concluded.

Set to debut on Peacock, the new show confirms that the same fictional documentary crew that immortalized the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin is back, but this time they are searching for a new subject to film. As of December 2025, a first trailer has been released, revealing the new setting: a struggling, historic newspaper in Toledo, Ohio, facing an existential crisis in the digital age. This move to a different industry allows the series to maintain the beloved mockumentary format while avoiding the trap of simply recreating Michael Scott's tenure, focusing instead on the chaos and camaraderie of journalists fighting for survival.

The Paper: Full Cast, Characters, and Creative Team Biography

The new series is anchored by a mix of established comedic actors and rising stars, with a creative team that ensures a deep connection to the original show's DNA. The main cast features two prominent leads, alongside a diverse ensemble of journalists and staff.

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• Creator/Showrunner: Greg Daniels. Co-creator of the U.S. version of The Office and creator of other hit workplace comedies like Parks and Recreation and Upload. He co-created The Paper with Michael Koman.
• Creator/Showrunner: Michael Koman. A veteran comedy writer and producer, known for his work on Saturday Night Live and Nathan for You.
• Domhnall Gleeson as Ned Sampson. Known for roles in About Time, Ex Machina, and the Star Wars sequel trilogy. He plays an idealistic, Irish journalist who is the newly appointed editor-in-chief of the Toledo newspaper. His arrival kicks off the series.
• Sabrina Impacciatore as Esmeralda Grand. An Italian actress who gained international acclaim for her role as Valentina in The White Lotus. She plays a character whose role is currently under wraps but is a key part of the ensemble.
• Chelsea Frei as Mare Pritti. Known for her work on The Time Traveler's Wife. She plays a main character in the newspaper office.
• Melvin Gregg as Detrick Moore. Known for his roles in American Vandal and The Way Back.
• Gbemisola Ikumelo. Known for her role in A League of Their Own. Her character details are also being kept secret.
• Returning Character: Oscar Nuñez as Oscar Martinez. Nuñez is confirmed to be reprising his role from The Office, providing a direct link to the Dunder Mifflin universe. His exact role in the Toledo newspaper setting is a major point of curiosity for fans.

The Intricate Plot and The Mockumentary's Return

The central premise of The Paper is a fascinating twist on the original show's formula. The documentary crew, having finished their long-running project on Dunder Mifflin, is now looking for a new subject to film. They find it in a historic but financially struggling daily newspaper in Toledo, Ohio.

The series will focus on the staff of the newspaper as they grapple with the challenges of modern journalism, including dwindling readership, the pressure of breaking news, and the internal politics of a deeply traditional institution. The comedy is expected to stem from the clash of old-school reporting ethics with the new digital media landscape, all seen through the lens of the ever-present documentary crew.

The entire mockumentary style that defined The Office—the talking heads, the subtle reaction shots, and the characters’ awareness of the cameras—will be fully utilized. This format is crucial, as it’s the documentary crew itself that connects the two shows. The logline explicitly states that the crew is "in search of a new subject" after immortalizing Dunder Mifflin's Scranton branch.

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The plot kicks off with the arrival of Ned Sampson, the new, idealistic editor-in-chief, played by Domhnall Gleeson. The documentary crew’s first day of filming coincides with Ned’s first day on the job, setting the stage for a new era of workplace awkwardness and high-stakes professional drama.

Connecting The Paper to The Office Universe (Dunder Mifflin Crossover)

One of the biggest questions for fans is how closely The Paper will connect to the world of Michael Scott and Jim Halpert. Greg Daniels has been clear that while the series is set in the "universe of The Office," the main goal was to give the new show its own distinct identity.

The Confirmed Crossover Details:

• The Documentary Crew: The most important link is the crew itself. The same people who filmed Dunder Mifflin are now filming the Toledo newspaper, meaning the tone, style, and even the questions asked in the interviews will feel instantly familiar to fans.
• Oscar Martinez's Return: The confirmed casting of Oscar Nuñez as Oscar Martinez is the most tangible crossover. While his exact role is a secret, his presence ensures that the events and characters of Dunder Mifflin are still canon and relevant in this expanded universe. It sparks immediate curiosity: Did he leave accounting? Is he an investor? A consultant?
• Thematic Echoes: The title itself, The Paper, is a subtle nod to the original. Dunder Mifflin was a paper company; the new setting is a newspaper, which is also a "paper" product. This creates a clever thematic link between two industries struggling with obsolescence in the digital age.

The decision to focus on a newspaper office is a brilliant move for topical authority. It allows the show to explore LSI keywords and themes like "local journalism crisis," "print media decline," "digital transition," and "the ethics of reporting," all while using the beloved mockumentary framework. This provides a fresh, relevant backdrop for the kind of character-driven comedy that The Office perfected.

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The Paper Premiere Date and Release Strategy

For those eager to mark their calendars, the wait is almost over. The Paper is slated to premiere in the fall of 2025 on the streaming service Peacock.

Specifically, the first four episodes are scheduled to drop on September 4th, 2025. This initial batch release is a significant detail, as it deviates from the traditional weekly release model often used for new series. This release strategy—dropping multiple episodes at once—reflects a modern approach to streaming and will allow viewers to immediately binge a substantial portion of the first season.

The excitement surrounding The Paper is palpable. With the creative vision of Greg Daniels, a talented new cast, and the promise of a direct connection to the Dunder Mifflin saga, this spin-off is poised to become the next great workplace comedy. Fans can look forward to a fresh, funny, and deeply relevant look at a new kind of "office" when the series debuts in 2025.