Steve Carell almost skipped ‘The Office’ after Paul Rudd advised him to not go for it

Steve Carell has revealed that one of the most iconic roles of his career almost did not happen, thanks to unexpected advice from a close friend.

Speaking on Amy Poehler’s podcast, Carell shared that Paul Rudd actively tried to stop him from auditioning for The Office. At the time, the US adaptation of the British hit was widely viewed as a risky move, with many in the industry convinced it would fail.

Carell recalled that Rudd pulled him aside with a blunt warning, telling him, “Don’t do it, man. Don’t audition,” reflecting the general scepticism surrounding the project.

The hesitation was not limited to Rudd. Carell explained that many people believed the show should not be touched, especially given how beloved the original UK version, created by Ricky Gervais, had become. There were fears that any remake would fall short and damage the legacy of the original.

At the time, Carell and Rudd were working together on The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and conversations about career choices were frequent. Rudd’s warning reflected a broader industry mood, with even seasoned comedians doubting that an American version could succeed.

Despite the discouragement, Carell decided to go ahead with the audition, though he approached it carefully. He revealed that he deliberately avoided watching the original series beyond a brief glimpse, worried that he might end up copying Gervais’s performance rather than creating his own version of the character.

Early signs seemed to validate the scepticism. Carell admitted that the show’s pilot tested extremely poorly with audiences, with viewers strongly disliking it at first. However, the series was given time to grow, eventually evolving into one of the most successful and beloved sitcoms of its era.

Running for nine seasons, The Office became a cultural phenomenon, with Carell’s portrayal of Michael Scott earning critical acclaim and a lasting place in television history.