The camcorder is back on the shoulder. The muffled zooms. The awkward silences. The lingering stares into the lens. Something familiar is stirring in Toledo, Ohio — but it’s not Michael Scott behind the desk this time.
Instead, there’s a fresh face leading a dying newspaper, a jaded editorial staff, and a camera crew with unfinished business. This isn’t Scranton. It’s The Truth Teller, the fictional paper at the heart of The Paper, Peacock’s long-rumored spin-off to The Office. And with it, the fandom has reignited — with just as much skepticism as excitement.
No one saw it coming. Not like this.
After years of speculation, half-baked reunion pitches, and fan-made trailers littering Reddit, The Paper has finally broken through the rumor mill and into reality. And while the corridors of Dunder Mifflin are quiet, the buzz around The Paper release date is anything but.
The Paper Release Date: Official Details
Mark your calendars: The Paper premieres on September 4, 2025 exclusively on Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming platform. Peacock will release four episodes on launch day, followed by two new episodes weekly until the finale on September 25.
From executive producers Greg Daniels (The Office, Upload) and Michael Koman (Nathan for You, Saturday Night Live), The Paper carries heavy expectations — and legacy baggage.
“It’s not just another workplace comedy,” Daniels teased in a behind-the-scenes featurette. “It’s about people trying to hold onto truth in a world that’s increasingly indifferent to it.”
A Risky Inheritance: Following The Office’s Footsteps
Let’s be honest: stepping into The Office’s shadow is like trying to headline after The Beatles. It’s not just comedy; it’s cultural DNA. And The Paper isn’t just borrowing the mockumentary style — it’s inheriting its entire filmmaking grammar.
Enter Domhnall Gleeson, the reluctant hero of this newsroom revival. He plays the paper’s new editor-in-chief, desperate to bring The Truth Teller back to relevance. It’s his first major TV role since Run, and the pressure is real.
The rest of the ensemble is an eclectic mix:
- Sabrina Impacciatore (The White Lotus)
- Melvin Gregg (American Vandal)
- Chelsea Frei, Ramona Young, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Tim Key, and Alex Edelman round out the chaos of the newsroom.
But it’s Oscar Nuñez‘s return as Oscar Martinez — yes, the same Dunder Mifflin accountant — that’s triggered the loudest fan buzz. Though only recurring (for now), his presence links The Paper directly to the Scranton universe.
Watch the Trailer
Between Fiction and Fear: What’s The Paper Really About?
If The Office was about wasting time at work, The Paper is about running out of it. The Truth Teller is struggling — like most small-town print media — and Gleeson’s character is desperate to save it from obsolescence.
Add to that an aging staff, a newsroom haunted by old ideals, and a city that’s stopped reading. It’s a perfect storm of melancholy, absurdity, and hope — a cocktail The Office fans know well.
Still, fans worry. Some fear the show will collapse under its own legacy.
Controversies and Curveballs
Production on The Paper hasn’t been without drama. Originally announced as The Truth Teller in 2024, the show’s name was changed mid-year amid focus group confusion.
Rumors also circulated that John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer were approached for cameos — but sources close to Peacock say only Krasinski expressed “conditional interest.” Steve Carell has reportedly declined all involvement.
Behind the scenes, a mid-production writing staff shakeup briefly delayed the shooting schedule. Daniels and Koman were forced to rewrite several key episodes after early test audiences called the tone “too cynical.”
This isn’t the first time Daniels has had to pivot. The original pilot for The Office was once dubbed “career-ending” before it became a classic.
FAQ: Everything Fans Are Asking
Is The Paper a reboot of The Office?
No — it’s a spin-off set in the same universe, with a new cast and setting.
Will any original Office characters appear?
Only Oscar Martinez (Oscar Nuñez) is confirmed. Cameos from others are rumored but unconfirmed.
Where can I watch The Paper?
Peacock will stream it exclusively starting September 4, 2025.
How many episodes are there?
Eight total episodes — four at launch, then two per week until the finale.
So, Is The Paper Worth the Hype?
There’s more than a release date riding on The Paper. There’s a legacy. A fandom. A style of comedy that defined a generation. And while it may never recreate the magic of Scranton’s glory days, it dares to try — and in doing so, might just create a little magic of its own.
Do you think the crew will save the paper — or is The Truth Teller doomed to fade? Drop your theories below!
