NBC Confirms Michael Scott’s Replacement Boss on “The Office” – Sort Of

The speculation proved true Thursday night–NBC indeed confirmed that Will Ferrell’s guest arc on “The Office” will see his character enter Dunder Mifflin Sabre as Michael Scott’s (Steve Carell’s) replacement.

The Peacock announced Ferrell’s debut on the next episode with the line, “Well, well, well, look who’s going to be the new boss.”

But while many media outlets and fans are reacting as if this was a fresh confirmation of the departing Steve Carell’s replacement on the show, the reality is that Ferrell’s role on the show, still viewed as a temporary gig, was always presumed to be that of a temporary regional manager.

The original Headline Planet report on Will Ferrell’s “The Office” arc strongly suggested he was being booked as a temporary regional manager, with the character description noting, Ferrell will play “a branch manager who arrives from the home office and proves to be just as inappropriate as Michael.”

Prior to this season, it had been teased that a temporary candidate for Michael’s role would emerge near the end of the current season but that the real, long-term replacement would be announced even later in the season–or right at the start of season eight.

Given that, and given the fact that sources still say Ferrell’s role on the show is temporary, it does not appear that he will be the true Steve Carell replacement come next season.

Following Michael Scott’s proposal to Holly on Thursday’s episode, “The Office” set the wheels in motion for the character’s exit by confirming he would be moving with his fiancee to her hometown in Colorado. There, she plans to take care of her parents, whose health and mental state are greatly deteriorating.