Fans of The Office have eagerly been awaiting news about the upcoming spin-off, and tidbits are finally rolling out about Peacock's new show The Paper. Here’s what we know — and why queer fans should be hyped.
What 'The Paper' is about?
Domnhall Gleeson, 'The Paper'Aaron Epstein/PeacockThe Paper will follow the staff of a struggling small-town newspaper, The Truth Teller, in Toledo, Ohio, as a new publisher tries to revive its legacy and relevance in the digital age. The primary connection to Dunder Mifflin comes in the framing — the same fictional documentary crew that filmed the mockumentary will also be following this staff.
If that’s too twisty to follow, don’t worry, there’s another connection between The Office and The Paper. Oscar Nuñez will be reviving his role as Oscar Martinez, who has clearly moved on to slightly bigger and slightly brighter pastures post-Dunder Mifflin.
"I told Mr. Greg Daniels that if Oscar came back, he would probably be living in a more bustling, cosmopolitan city. Greg heard me and he moved Oscar to Toledo, Ohio — which has three times the population of Scranton," Nuñez joked during the NBC Upfront in New York City this week. "So, it was nice to be heard."
Oscar was the only gay character on The Office, so it’s nice to see him return — and we’re hoping it signals more inclusivity on the way for The Paper.
Who else is starring in 'The Paper'?
'The Paper; cast: Oscar Nuñez, Sabrina Impacciatore, Gbemisola Ikumelo, and Alex Edelman
Romain Maurice/Getty Images; Kevin Mazur/Getty Images; Chad Salvador/Variety via Getty Images; Rick Kern/Getty Images
Also of queer interest among the new cast are Sabrina Impacciatore, who played a lesbian hotel manager in season two of The White Lotus, and has long been considered a queer icon in Italy, Gbemisola Ikumelo, who appeared in the beloved (though short-lived) Prime Video series A League of Their Own, and queer comedian Alex Edelman.
Domnhall Gleeson is taking the lead at The Paper, with the rest of the cast made up of Chelsea Frei, Melvin Gregg, Ramona Young, and Tim Key. The Office showrunner Greg Daniels developed the spin-off alongside Michael Koman.
When does 'The Paper' air?
As for when we can actually watch this spin-off, it is currently planned for a September release on Peacock.
