The Iconic TV Star Paid Millions Not To Join The Office
By the time The Office was in its eighth season, it was a massive worldwide hit. But with Steve Carell’s exit as Michael Scott, the show struggled to find a worthy replacement. Big Hollywood names like Kathy Bates, James Spader, and even Will Ferrell gave it a go. However, the one unsuspecting TV icon who could have been the perfect replacement, James Gandolfini, was actually paid a hefty sum not to join the popular workplace comedy.
James Gandolfini Given $4 Million To Say No To The Office
James Gandolfini’s Sopranos co-stars Michael Imperioli and Schirripa made this revelation on the Talking Sopranos podcast. According to them, NBC sought out Gandolfini as Carell’s replacement. Reportedly, NBC offered the actor $4 million to join The Office, but HBO responded by paying him $3 million just to turn it down.
It seemed James Gandolfini would have taken the offer to join The Office had it not been for HBO’s interference. After all, The Sopranos had ended in 2007, and Carell’s departure didn’t come until 2011.
Protecting Legacy
So why, exactly, did HBO pay so much money to keep him away from the NBC series? While there’s no certain answer, Schirripa and Imperioli speculate that legacy was likely the reason. Decades later, James Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano remains one of HBO’s most iconic characters, and following up that role with a comedy could have left a different mark on the late actor’s legacy, and in turn, HBO’s.
Exactly What The Series Needed
Looking back at what happened to The Office after Steve Carell’s exit makes it sting just a little bit more to think of what could’ve been if James Gandolfini had joined the cast. No one was able to fill the void, and many tried. Gandolfini, however, could’ve been just what the series needed, as the actor had little knowledge of the show prior to his NBC offer.
The Office (The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s: An oral History) came out in 2020, and also touched on James Gandolfini’s offer. According to writer Daniel Chungave, Gandolfini “wasn’t super familiar” with the show. He recalled the actor saying, “I don’t one hundred percent know how to play this character.”
There Was No Replacing Michael Scott
A fresh, unfamiliar face could have been just what The Office needed. The proof is in Will Ferrell’s addition to the series in Season 7. Playing Deangelo Vickers, Ferrell’s character was exactly like Michael Scott –which was actually a bad thing, because he was not Michael Scott.
James Gandolfini’s unfamiliarity with the show means the actor would not have been likely to try to recreate Michael Scott’s magic. While Will Ferrell performed well on The Office, many fans criticized the decision to replicate Scott.
Gandolfini Made The Right Decision
I’d like to think that James Gandolfini’s addition to The Office could have revitalized the show, but in reality, taking the easy paycheck from HBO was the right call. Many blame Steve Carell’s departure for the show’s demise, but I think the series was losing its steam long before, and no amount of star power was going to turn things around.
Source: Talking Sopranos
