More than a decade after The Office ended its original run, Rainn Wilson believes the beloved sitcom would face significant challenges if it were being created today. Wilson, who portrayed eccentric salesman Dwight Schrute throughout all nine seasons of the NBC comedy, recently shared his thoughts in an interview with Fox News Digital. According to the actor, the series embraced a style of humour that would be much harder to replicate in the current entertainment climate.
Wilson's Perspective on Modern Comedy
“I do feel like you could not make The Office today,” Wilson said. “I think that would be too hard to be as politically incorrect as the show was. And I do kind of miss that.” The actor explained that much of the comedy in the series came from characters who lacked self-awareness. Michael Scott, played by Steve Carell, and Dwight Schrute frequently made insensitive comments and behaved in inappropriate ways, with the humour stemming from their ignorance rather than the show endorsing those views.
Audience Reactions in a Different Era
Wilson noted that despite those characters being portrayed as foolish, audiences in 2026 might react differently to some of the material. “We milked that for a lot of great, really inappropriate stuff,” he said. “But even with the fact that painting that character as just an idiot, I do not think you could get away with it today.” The Office aired from 2005 until 2013 and produced 201 episodes. Adapted from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s British series of the same name, the American version became one of television’s most successful comedies and developed a devoted following that continues years after its conclusion.
Previous Comments and Specific Episodes
Wilson has previously addressed the subject. During an appearance on The Last Laugh podcast in September 2025, he pointed to specific episodes that he believes would be viewed differently by modern audiences. Among them was the famous “Benihana Christmas” episode, in which Michael Scott and Andy Bernard bring two women from a restaurant to the office holiday party and later mark one of them with a permanent marker to tell them apart. Wilson described the storyline as “jaw droppingly kind of horrific” when viewed through a contemporary lens. He argued that the series intentionally centred on clueless and insensitive characters, saying their behaviour often reflected broader flaws found within American society.
Franchise Expansion Continues
Interestingly, Wilson’s comments come despite the continued expansion of the franchise. Peacock launched sequel series The Paper in September 2025. The programme stars Domhnall Gleeson, Sabrina Impacciatore and Oscar Nuñez and follows the staff of a struggling Midwestern newspaper. A second season is expected later in 2026.
