The world of workplace comedies just got a fresh injection of life with the arrival of The Paper, the much-anticipated spinoff of The Office, which premiered exclusively on Peacock on September 4, 2025. For fans of Dunder Mifflin and the iconic Scranton branch, this new chapter brings both nostalgia and novelty, weaving together old threads and new ambitions in a newsroom setting that’s as chaotic as it is charming.
Before the first episode even had a chance to sink in, Peacock demonstrated remarkable confidence in its new show. According to The Hollywood Reporter and confirmed by lead stars Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore on NBC’s Today show, The Paper was renewed for a second season on premiere day. The network’s decision was driven by “positive responses from people who have previewed the series,” and the entire ten-episode first season was dropped at once—scrapping the original plan for a staggered rollout. Viewers in the US can binge the entire season on Peacock, while UK and Irish audiences can tune in via Sky.
The show’s roots stretch directly back to the world of The Office. The series opener wastes no time addressing the fate of Dunder Mifflin, the fictional paper company where Michael Scott once reigned supreme. In a clever cold open, Bob Vance—husband of Phyllis and a familiar face from the original series—appears outside the now-defunct Scranton office, revealing to the camera crew that Dunder Mifflin has been "gone for a while." He notes that Phyllis and Stanley still keep in touch, but the paper company has long since shuttered. The office space is now home to a laser eye surgery and tattoo removal company, a far cry from the days of paper sales and Dundie Awards.
But what exactly happened to Dunder Mifflin? Bob Vance helps the ever-curious documentary crew (the same one that chronicled the Scranton branch’s misadventures) dig into the Chamber of Commerce website. There, they discover that in 2019, Dunder Mifflin was purchased by Enervate, a Toledo-based paper company. Enervate’s reach is broad, manufacturing everything from newspapers to toilet paper. Among their holdings is the Toledo Truth Teller, a once-respected local newspaper now struggling to stay relevant in the age of online journalism and social media. Marv Putnam, Enervate's CEO, oversees operations from the aptly named Truth Teller Tower in Toledo.
This transition sets the stage for The Paper’s central narrative. The documentary crew, hungry for a new story, lands at the doorstep of the Truth Teller. The newsroom is a far cry from its pre-Internet heyday, and the staff is in dire need of inspiration. Enter Ned Sampson, played by Domhnall Gleeson, an overzealous new editor-in-chief who previously worked in sales for Enervate’s Softees toilet paper division. Ned is tasked with reviving the faltering newspaper, and he brings an infectious, if sometimes misguided, optimism to the job.
Gleeson, best known for his roles in blockbuster franchises like Star Wars and Harry Potter, dove deep into the world of local journalism to prepare for the role. As he told Variety, “I went to Cincinnati; I went to Columbus; I went to Toledo. I hung out with loads of great journalists and great editors and asked them questions. They gave me their time and were incredibly generous. They talked about how they felt about where journalism is at the moment and what it’s like to be involved.” This dedication pays off onscreen, as Ned’s blend of earnestness and awkwardness feels both authentic and endearing.
Joining Gleeson is Sabrina Impacciatore, who plays Esmeralda Grand, the Truth Teller’s managing editor. Impacciatore’s journey to the role was anything but conventional. According to Variety, she was invited to audition immediately after wrapping a film in South Africa. With only 24 hours to learn pages of English dialogue on her flight back to Rome—and having never seen The Office—she watched the original series for the first time mid-flight. Despite “forgetting everything and blacking out” during the audition, she landed the part after making the producers laugh.
The ensemble cast is rounded out by Chelsea Frei, Melvin Gregg, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Alex Edelman, Ramona Young, Eric Rahill, Tim Key, Allan Havey, and Nate Jackson. Notably, Oscar Nuñez reprises his beloved role as Dunder Mifflin accountant Oscar Martinez, bringing a direct connection to the original series. In the premiere, Oscar is less than thrilled to see the documentary crew again, at one point threatening to make their footage unusable by cursing—a classic callback to his dry wit.
Behind the scenes, the show boasts a creative team that should be familiar to fans of workplace comedy. Greg Daniels, the mastermind behind the U.S. version of The Office, co-created The Paper with Michael Koman. Ricky Gervais, co-creator of the original UK Office, serves as an executive producer, while Gregg and Michael are co-showrunners. The result is a show that captures the spirit of its predecessor while carving out its own identity, rooted in the unique pressures and personalities of a modern newsroom.
The show’s humor is as offbeat and awkward as ever. The trailer, as described by The Hollywood Reporter, sets the tone with a scene in which employee Ken (Tim Key) ranks Enervate’s products: “Enervate sells products made of paper: Toilet tissue, toilet seat protectors and local newspapers — and that is in order of quality.” Elsewhere, Esmeralda proudly shows off a clickbait article (“You Won’t Believe How Much Ben Affleck Tipped His Limo Driver”), and Ned’s first meeting with volunteer reporters reveals a staff with more experience in group texting than actual journalism. Still, Ned’s rallying cry—“Seven highly motivated, tenacious Buckeyes are out there hunting for news. You’d be a fool to bet against that”—channels the same underdog energy that made The Office a cult classic.
The premiere event at Hollywood’s Harmony Gold movie theater underscored the excitement surrounding the show. The venue was rebranded as the Toledo Truth Tower for the night, and original Office cast members, including Creed Bratton, Kate Flannery, and Ellie Kemper, turned out to support the new series. Paul Lieberstein, who played Toby Flenderson, even directed an episode of The Paper, fueling speculation about potential cameos in future seasons.
With a Certified Fresh Rotten Tomatoes score of 86% and the backing of both fans and critics, The Paper is poised to carve out its own legacy. The early renewal means viewers can expect more newsroom antics in late summer or early September 2026. For now, the newsroom doors are open, the presses are rolling, and a new era of workplace comedy has officially begun.
