Watch the first trailer for ‘The Office’ spin-off ‘The Paper’ – featuring fan-favourite Oscar Martinez

The first official trailer for The Office spin-off The Paper has arrived – you can watch it below.

Created by Greg Daniels (who developed the original British version of the sitcom for the US) and Michael Koman, the mockumentary series takes place in the same universe as Scranton’s Dunder Mifflin.

An official synopsis reads: “The documentary crew that immortalised Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch in the Emmy Award-winning series The Office find a new subject when they discover a historic Midwestern newspaper and the publisher trying to revive it.”

The show stars Domhnall Gleeson as an idealistic new employee looking to revive the title, with Sabrina Impacciatore portraying the paper’s managing editor. The supporting cast includes Chelsea Frei, Melvin Gregg, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Alex Edelman, Ramona Young, and British comedian and actor Tim Key (This Time With Alan Partridge, Peep Show).

The Paper will also see the return of The Office US star Oscar Nuñez as his character Oscar Martinez. No other original cast members from The Office US have been announced as returning.

Arriving today (August 7), the first trailer for The Paper begins with a familiar shot of Michael Scott’s office block. “Several years ago, a documentary crew filmed the story of Dunder Mufflin,” an on-screen message reads.

We’re then introduced to the crew’s new subjects, with Key’s character appearing before the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, Ned Sampson (Gleeson), addresses his staff. “It sucks,” he says of the publication, “but we are going to make it better.” He later rounds up a group of reporters for a meeting, and asks: “How many of you have actually written for a paper before?”

Later, we see accountant Oscar air his frustration as he gets up from behind his desk to confront the camera crew. “Not again!” he says. “I’m not agreeing to any of this!” Check out the trailer in full above.

The Paper is set to premiere on September 4 on Peacock in the US. Sky has the exclusive rights to the sitcom in the UK and will broadcast it the following date (September 5).

Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant – who co-created/co-wrote the original version of The Office – serve as executive producers, along with Howard Klein and Ben Silverman.

The Office US star Steve Carell said last year that he definitely won’t be reprising his role. “I will be watching but I will not be showing up,” he said. “It’s just a new thing and there’s really no reason for my character to show up in something like that.”

However, he was quick to praise the idea of The Paper, as well as its cast: “I’m excited about it, it sounds like a great conceit. I love the idea – I guess it’s set in a failing newspaper company, and I worked with Domhnall Gleeson, who is one of the leads; I did [2022 series] The Patient with him and he’s an excellent actor and a super nice guy so I think it’ll be great.”

Earlier this year, The Office US favourite Jenna Fischer denied that the show went downhill after Carell departed, arguing: “Some of my favourite episodes were in seasons eight and nine after Steve had left.”

Meanwhile, a star of the original The Office has said the British version is “nastier” than the US remake.

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