Quick Links

It is now almost ten years since the final episode of The Office aired on NBC in May 2013. The mockumentary sitcom was first adapted for American television from a British version by comedian Ricky Gervais.

The Office lasted on NBC for nine seasons over the course of eight years, in which period it became one of the most popular sitcoms of all time. To lead the US iteration of the show, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart's Steve Carell was cast in the role of Michael Scott.

The character was the equivalent of David Brent in the original series in the UK, who was portrayed by Gervais himself. Over the years, fans of the respective versions would always clash over which show was better; and who the better front-man was, between Michael Scott and David Brent.

Even before the show kicked off in the States, it seemed to already be quite popular among actors, many of whom are said to have angled to be cast in the main role. Carell would eventually triumph over all of them, but not before the producers were turned down by Private Parts star Paul Giamatti, who was their first choice for the part.

'The Office' Had An Unusual Casting Process

Most shows usually audition for specific parts by handing candidates scripts with lines by the character they are auditioning for. The actor is then expected to perform the bit and the producers can decide who fits the profile they want the most.

The Office reportedly had quite an unusual casting process, however. Instead of excerpts from the script, the actors were briefed on the characters they would be auditioning for, and then asked specific questions, which they would have to respond in character.

Ben Silverman was one of the leading producers on the project. He was given the name of Paul Giamatti by NBC exec Kevin Reilly, to consider for the part of Michael Scott. Silverman was intrigued by the suggestion, and they approached the actor, but he declined, instead choosing to remain focused on what was then a blossoming big screen career.

RELATED: 'The Office': The 10 Best Michael Scott Episodes

The powers that be eventually settled on Steve Carell, in what would essentially become the defining role of his career. He was joined on the cast by Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute, John Krasinki as Jim Halpert, Jenna Fischer as Pam Beesly, and B.J. Novak as Ryan Howard.

Which Other Actors Were Considered For The Role Of Michael Scott In 'The Office'?

Before the creators of The Office finally turned to Steve Carell, they also considered a number of other actors who auditioned, and even offered the role of Michael Scott to accomplished screen performer, Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Like Giamatti, the Capote actor was a lot more invested in other projects in his career, and turned down the part.

Rainn Wilson would eventually become one of the stars of The Office, as he played the role of Michael Scott's understudy, Dwight Schrute. However, he had tried for the part that would eventually go to Carell, although by his own admission, he flopped at it.

While Carell is said to have mostly abstained from watching the UK version of the show, Wilson watched the entire series on DVD. This was one of the things he felt contributed to his inability to nail his Michael Scott audition. "I just basically did my Ricky Gervais impersonation because I really didn't know what to do with the character," he said in a past interview with NPR.

RELATED: Everything Rainn Wilson Has Been Up To Since 'The Office'

Hank Azaria, Martin Short Ben Falcone, Alan Tudyk, Jim Zulevic, Bob Odenkirk and Paul F. Tompkins were also either interested or in the running to play Michael Scott.

The Race Came Down To Steve Carell And Bob Odenkirk

As the race for who would eventually be cast as Michael Scott came to the wire, the producers of The Office had whittled down their list of preferences to just two. Up against eventual winner Steve Carell was Bob Odenkirk, who at the time was known for writing and starring in various sketch shows.

One common denominator that they both had was what Ben Silverman described as an 'Americana' look. "We wanted somebody with the kind of generic Americana appeal that most TV stars of the time had," Silverman told author Andy Greene, who penned the book The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s in 2020.

At the end of the day, the difference-maker was the respective actors' approach to the role. In Silverman's words, they were swayed by Carell's jerk/douche approach over Odenkirk's, who portrayed a more tough, and mean Michael Scott.

NEXT: Jenna Fischer Auditioned For 'The Office' Alongside This Iconic Actor Who Was Almost Cast As Michael Scott