Jenna Fischer reveals Steve Carell’s surprise return in ‘The Office’ finale

Jenna Fischer revealed how the cast of The Office went to great lengths to keep Steve Carell’s surprise appearance in the final episode a secret.

Plotting Steve Carell’s Secret Return

During a recent episode of the Office Ladies podcast, Jenna Fischer, who played Pam, and Angela Kinsey, who played Angela, discussed the elaborate measures taken to conceal Carell’s return to the show.

Steve Carell, known for his role as Michael Scott, left the show after seven seasons but made a surprise appearance at the wedding of Angela and Dwight in the series finale.

The Art of Deception

Fischer shared that creator Greg Daniels went as far as filming a fake version of the episode to mislead the cast and crew and prevent any spoilers.

“He was afraid that if he turned in any footage of Steve Carell on the show before it aired, NBC would make promos and ruin the surprise,” Fischer explained.

The cast only discovered Carell’s return the day before the episode aired, adding to the excitement and secrecy surrounding his cameo.

Overcoming Obstacles

Initially hesitant to reprise his role, Carell eventually agreed to return based on the compelling storyline pitched to him. The history between Michael Scott and the other characters justified his presence at the wedding.

Fischer shared, “Steve felt like Michael’s story had ended, and he didn’t want to overshadow the finale with his return after two years.”

Ultimately, Carell’s return was supported by a creative reason that stayed true to the characters’ relationships throughout the series.

Keeping Secrets

Fischer admitted to not even telling her close friend and co-star, Angela Kinsey, about Carell’s return, maintaining the surprise until the last minute.

When Carell finally appeared on set, the surprise was shared among the cast, with even Kinsey discovering his presence in real-time.

Kinsey recalled the moment, “The set PA turned to me and said, ‘Steve is here.’ I was in disbelief until I saw him sitting in hair and makeup.”

Preserving the Element of Surprise

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While most of the cast remained unaware of Carell’s return, John Krasinski, who played Jim, also kept the secret, going as far as lying about it during interviews.

Krasinski admitted, “I lied to [David] Letterman! I had to protect the surprise, and it turned out to be the best decision we made.”

FAQs

Why was Steve Carell’s return to The Office kept a secret?

Steve Carell’s return was kept under wraps to preserve the element of surprise for fans and maintain the impact of his cameo in the series finale.

How did the cast react to Steve Carell’s surprise appearance?

The cast, including Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, were thrilled and shocked by Steve Carell’s return, with some, like John Krasinski, even going to great lengths to keep the secret.

Credit: ew.com