Peacock is betting big on The Paper. The Office spinoff has been officially renewed for a second season—a full day before its Season 1 premiere.
The early renewal was confirmed on NBC’s Today show by series stars Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore, signaling a strong vote of confidence from NBCUniversal. All ten episodes of The Paper‘s first season drop September 4 on Peacock.
Set in the Midwest, The Paper follows a documentary crew—yes, the same one that immortalized Dunder Mifflin—who find a new subject: a historic newspaper and the publisher trying to revive it.
The series stars also stars Melvin Gregg, Chelsea Frei, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Alex Edelman, Ramona Young, and Tim Key. Guest stars for the series include Eric Rahill, Tracy Letts, Molly Ephraim, Mo Welch, Allan Havey, Duane Shepard Sr., Nate Jackson, and Nancy Lenehan.
Oscar Nuñez reprises his role from The Office, and the series is directed by Greg Daniels, Office pilot director Ken Kwapis, and Office writer-director Paul Lieberstein, who also played Toby.
Behind the Scenes
Greg Daniels co-created the series with Michael Koman (Nathan For You), who also serves as executive producer and co-showrunner. Executive producers include, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Howard Klein, Ben Silverman, and Banijay Americas (formerly Reveille) The series is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
A Rare Pre-Launch Renewal
Early pickups like this are rare, especially for new series. Streaming platforms usually wait to gauge viewership before making renewal decisions. But The Paper comes with a built-in legacy. The series shares DNA with The Office, including its mockumentary style and Greg Daniels, the developer of the American version, as co-creator, executive producer, and co-showrunner.
Daniels is already developing ideas for Season 2, according to reports. Sources indicate NBCUniversal was pleased with the completed first season and fast-tracked the renewal to keep momentum going.
Expanding the Franchise
NBCUniversal has long viewed a continuation of The Office universe as a key priority for Peacock. Greg Daniels had full control over the creative direction, and by early 2024, he opened a writers’ room to explore new stories. That development process led to The Paper.
With The Office continuing to dominate streaming viewership charts, The Paper may be the franchise expansion that fans—and streamers—have been waiting for.