Will James Spader Take Over for Steve Carell on “The Office?”

When Steve Carell announced he’d be leaving NBC’s hit comedy “The Office,” executive producer Ben Silverman and the rest of the crew wouldn’t reveal who would replace Carell in the upcoming season. The entertainment rumor mill has cropped up again, and the word is that James Spader may be in negotiations to replace Michael Scott as the manager at paper company Dunder-Mifflin’s Scranton branch. Spader guest starred in the season finale.

“Entertainment Weekly” released a report that in fact, Spader would be replacing Kathy Bates’ character, as she’ll be leaving the show to focus on “Harry’s Law,” in which she plays the lead. Bates currently plays Dunder-Mifflin’s CEO and rumor has it that Spader will enter the show as Carell’s character’s replacement, but then will be quickly promoted to the company’s CEO. This means that Carell’s spot will once again be vacant, and there is no word yet about who could permanently fill the role.

Spader is probably best known for his role in 1980s hit “Pretty in Pink,” but now he works mostly in television. He played an attorney on “The Practice” and now on the spin-off show “Boston Legal.” He has won three Emmys for his performance on the drama. Whatever is next in store for “The Office,” with Ben Silverman as one of the executive producers, the new season is sure to be a hit.