The Office star Oscar Nuñez is reprising the role of fan-favorite character Oscar Martinez in the upcoming Peacock spinoff The Paper.
In the new series, a documentary crew follows a dying Midwestern newspaper and its publisher's efforts to revive it using volunteer reporters. It will center on a new group of characters alongside Oscar Martinez, who somehow finds himself in a new workplace. While the connection is clear, fans are still wondering what the familiar character's return means to the series and the world of The Office.
Why is Oscar Martinez Returning in The Paper?
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter during the red carpet premiere, creators Greg Daniels and Michael Koman explained why they chose Oscar Martinez to be the returning character and the connective tissue between The Office and The Paper.
"He’s fabulous, he’s hilarious. Also, if you look at the finale of The Office, the characters have a lot of wrap-up and they were mostly going in different directions, leaving Dunder Mufflin; Oscar was kind of the same as he was in the beginning when he was still there, so it made sense," Daniels said.
Koman added, "Oscar’s just really funny and I love him, and I thought he works really well because he blends in to almost any ensemble. He makes the show funnier. [After the events of The Office], his story was a little more open-ended. So it made sense to bring him back because it felt like there was more story there."
Nuñez also shared that his return was a "slow process" and he only agreed to return after many conversations with Daniels during the development process.
If you're wondering whether Oscar Martinez will appear in all episodes of the first season, the answer is yes. Nuñez is part of the regular main cast.
Should Fans Expect Cameos from Other The Office Characters?
The question now from fans is whether The Paper will feature cameo appearances from other characters in The Office.
Unfortunately for those who are expecting some cameos, Daniels has shot down the possibility as he wanted the show to stand on its own without relying on bringing back familiar characters.
"Most of the cast, their stories had closure and I don’t think they really want to open them up again just to guest on another show. It was very important for me to create a show that would stand on its own and make its own name for itself and not need guest stars from the old show every week to get [people to] tune in," he said.
Stars from The Office have shown support for the spinoff series, including Steve Carell and John Krasinski, who visited the set during the first day of filming.
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