More money for Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais!
NBC is developing a family comedy that would center on Dwight Schrute, the beet-farming quasi-Nazi quasi-Amish sci-fi fanatic and paper salesman played by Rainn Wilson on “The Office,” according to Deadline Hollywood.
The “Fawlty Towers”-ish/“Newhart”-ish spin-off would focus on Shrute’s bed-and-breakfast business, his plain-living cousins and his rural Pennsylvania neighbors.
NBC hopes to have it ready to air in about a year. Ed Helms, John Krasinksi and Mindy Kaling are not signed for any “Office” episodes beyond this season, according to Deadline, and, indeed, “The Office” itself is not yet renewed for 2012-2013.
Wilson currently receives top billing on “The Office,” and has since the 2011 departure of Steve Carell.
“Office” showrunner Paul Lieberstein will oversee the project. Not involved in the Shrute spin-off is the other “Office” showrunner, Greg Daniels, who is busy not only with “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation,” but also several other potential NBC sitcoms.
Sadly, we’re not likely to see a lot more of Mose Schrute, the maniacal cousin played by Mike Schur. Schur has his hands full serving as the primary “Parks” showrunner, and "Parks" looks very likely to get picked up for next season.
Find Deadline’s exclusive on the matter here.
