Philip Seymour Hoffman Turned Down ‘The Office’ When Offered Michael Scott Role
Philip Seymour Hoffman Turned Down #TheOffice When Offered Michael Scott Role https://t.co/EhXGXyDbzk pic.twitter.com/m7IxlWJ5bu
- IndieWire (@IndieWire) June 24, 2020
Michael Scott role was originally offered to Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Giamatti.
Both actors declined the role.
Actors who at least made it to the “consideration stage,”: “
David Arquette, Jason Lee, Dave Foley, Dan Castellaneta, Thomas Lennon, Horatio Sanz, Ben Falcone, Owen Wilson, David Koechner, Hank Azaria, Rick Moranis, Kevin Nealon, Dan Aykroyd, Jon Favreau, Eugene Levy, Christopher Guest, Jason Segal, Andy Richter, Jeff Garlin, Cedric the Entertainer, Richard Kind, Matthew Broderick, William H. Macy, Paul F. Tompkins, Stanley Tucci, Steve Buscemi, Gary Cole, Stephen Colbert, and John C. Reilly.”
The role for Michael Scott eventually boiled down to two candidates: Steve Carell and Bob Odenkirk.
Carell’s favor was that he played Michael Scott as more of “a jerk and a douche,”
Odenkirk “was a little tougher and meaner” and played the character as “an asshole.”
It just skewed darker than what the show needed.
source
ONTD, who else could have been a great 'Michael Scott' ?