Steve Carell Confirms He's Leaving "The Office"
NEW YORK (CBS) It looks like Michael Scott will be leaving Dunder Mifflin for good.
Steve Carell has confirmed that he plans to leave "The Office" after the 2010-2011 season.
"I just think it's time," he told E! Online at the premiere of his film "Despicable Me" on Sunday in Los Angeles. "I want to fulfill my contract. When I first signed on, I had a contract for seven seasons, and this coming year is my seventh. I just thought it was time for my character to go."
But according to Carell, the NBC comedy could go on without him.
"It doesn't certainly mean the end of the show," he said. "I think it's just a dynamic change to the show, which could be a good thing, actually. Add some new life and some new energy...I see it as a positive in general for the show."
Carell added that he didn't think his character's exit would be a big deal.
"I didn't see it as a huge thing and I certainly didn't anticipate any sort of hubbub over it," he said. "I'm just not going to extend my contract, but I didn't see it as a huge deal. And the show is great, and the ensemble is so strong, and the writers are great, so it's just one part of that ensemble drifting off. They've incorporated so many new characters and so many new, great storylines that I have no doubt it'll continue as strong if not stronger than ever."
Carell's portrayal of the often-misguided, immature and off-the-wall head of Dunder Mifflin's branch in Scranton, Pa., has earned him four Emmy nominations and five Golden Globe nominations (including one win).