Paul Rudd Once Tried to Stop Steve Carell From Auditioning for The Office

Paul Rudd may be known as one of Hollywood’s nicest stars, but even he had doubts about what would become one of television’s most iconic shows.

In a recent appearance on Good Hang, Steve Carell revealed that Rudd once advised him not to audition for the U.S. version of The Office.

The conversation happened in 2004 while the two actors were filming Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. Carell mentioned he was heading to audition for the American remake of the British hit created by Ricky Gervais.

According to Carell, Rudd responded bluntly: “Ugh, don’t do it. Bad, bad move. It’s never going to be as good.”

At the time, this opinion was common in Hollywood. During the podcast, Amy Poehler said many believed the remake was a “terrible idea,” mainly because Gervais’ original performance as David Brent was so unique.

Despite the doubts, Carell decided to go ahead with the audition—but with a smart strategy. He said he only watched about one minute of the U.K. version because he didn’t want to copy Gervais’ style.

Instead, Carell worked with showrunner Greg Daniels to create a different version of the character. While David Brent was more harsh and awkward, Carell shaped Michael Scott into a more childish and misguided boss. This change later helped the show connect with audiences.

Even after Carell got the role, success was not guaranteed. The pilot episode reportedly tested very poorly with viewers and became the lowest-rated pilot in NBC’s history.

However, the show survived. One reason was Carell’s rising popularity after his hit film The 40-Year-Old Virgin. When Season 2 arrived, The Office began to gain momentum—and eventually became one of the most beloved sitcoms ever made.

In hindsight, Rudd’s advice didn’t age well. Carell’s decision to take the risk helped create a character—and a show—that fans still love today.