How Different Casting Choices Could Have Changed the Show

Many actors, some of whom are very well-known, auditioned for The Office, and had the executives behind the show made different casting choices, The Office would have been unrecognizable. The Office remains a massively popular show, even more than a decade after its conclusion in 2013, and it’s considered among the most influential network TV shows of all time.

The show is held in such high regard for many reasons, from the comedic style to the strength of The Office cast. Regarding the latter, that was more than luck. The creative minds behind The Office had some tough casting decisions to make, and the audition tapes prove how big an impact the casting had.

The Office’s Audition Tapes Show What The Cast Could’ve Been

Agatha winking next to Herb in WandaVision

The list of stars who auditioned for The Office comprises some surprising names, at least in terms of picturing these actors in the roles we now know so well and love so much. Among the names that stand out the most are Alan Tudyk, Bob Odenkirk, and Nick Offerman, all of whom auditioned to be Michael Scott.

Other surprises include Kathryn Hahn auditioning for Pam Beesly, Adam Scott auditioning for Jim Halpert, and Seth Rogen and Patton Oswalt auditioning for the role of Dwight Schrute, among many others. While each is a brilliantly talented actor, had these actors been cast instead, The Office would have looked totally different.

The Office Would Have Been A Very Different Show With Those Actors

Seth Rogen in An American Pickle grimacing

Some names stand out more than others of those named above, especially when thinking about how big an impact they would have had on the show. As just one example, Kathryn Hahn is a hilarious, wonderful actress who proved her acting chops and ability to lead a show once again in Agatha All Along just last year.

However, there’s no denying that her more cheeky, sarcastic comedic style would have changed Pam as a character quite a bit, particularly given that Jenna Fischer, who did play Pam in the show, had a more subdued and quiet (but still very funny) personality.

Likewise, while both Bob Odenkirk and Seth Rogen are plenty talented, they would have brought very different versions of Michael and Dwight to the screen. In fact, we saw proof of that in Odenkirk’s case, as he eventually did have an appearance on the show as a boss who even Pam identified as being reminiscent of Michael.

The Office Eventually Landed On The Perfect Cast

Pam, Andy, Jim, and Michael in “Classy Christmas” (S7, E11-12) of The Office

While it’s fun to imagine what each of these actors would have been like had they landed the roles for which they auditioned, the truth is, The Office ended up with an absolutely perfect cast. The show is beloved for a reason, and a massive part of that is what each of these actors brought to their respective roles.

It’s not possible to say with certainty that the show would have done poorly, of course, and there’s plenty to like about the actors who did audition. Yet, The Office managed to pull off a very special type of magic that is reserved for the best shows, and the cast that ultimately ended up on the show made that happen.