In a surprising turn of events, Creed Bratton, the beloved oddball from the original “The Office,” will not be making an appearance in the upcoming reboot of the series. Fans of the quirky quality assurance manager at Dunder Mifflin, known for his mysterious and unpredictable personality, will be disappointed to learn that Bratton has confirmed he won’t be part of the new show.
The new series, which will follow employees at a struggling Midwestern newspaper, has cast Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore in the lead roles. The only connection to the original series will be the documentary crew that follows the new characters around, much like in the original “The Office.”
Despite the excitement surrounding the reboot, it seems unlikely that any characters from the original series will return. Creed Bratton, who played his namesake character, recently shared an intriguing idea for how he could appear in the revival. The idea, which came from his co-star Rainn Wilson, who played Dwight Schrute, involved Creed sitting at a desk in a backroom, mumbling occasionally as people walked by, with no explanation of his role or mention of his name.
However, Bratton has since squashed any hopes of his return. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he expressed his gratitude for being part of the original series but confirmed that he would not be appearing in the new show. “The thing is, we couldn’t get the original group together anyway. That’s impossible. And I won’t actually be on the new show,” he said. “I’m just very grateful I was on the original one. I get up every day and think about how lucky I am. But I’ve done it.”
Bratton wished the new cast the best of luck, expressing his hope that they would make more people laugh and even make him laugh. He compared the potential success of the new show to that of “Parks and Recreation,” which turned out to be a great success despite initial skepticism.
Creed Bratton isn’t the only “Office” alum to rule out a return. Steve Carell, who played Michael Scott, also confirmed that he would not be appearing in the new series. At the premiere of his new film “IF,” directed by John Krasinski, Carell told the Hollywood Reporter, “I will be watching, but I will not be showing up. That is off the cards. It’s just a new thing, and there’s really no reason for my character to show up in something like that. But I’m excited about it. It sounds like a great conceit. I love the idea.”
Despite the absence of original cast members, fans are hopeful that showrunner Greg Daniels and co-creator Michael Koman will create a series that captures the magic of the original. Daniels, known for his comedic genius, is expected to bring a fresh and entertaining perspective to the new show.
Creed Bratton’s life has taken many turns since “The Office” ended. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Bratton’s life came to a standstill. He couldn’t play gigs, book TV or film work, or appear at fan conventions. However, he used the time to write songs, and he is set to release his new LP “Tao Pop” on September 27.
The album’s leadoff single, “Corner of the Universe,” features Elliot Easton of the Cars on guitar. Bratton describes it as a fun, catchy summer song that will put people in a good mood. The song, which sparkles with optimism about the future of mankind, was inspired by an article in Popular Mechanics about the shrinking size of the hole in the ozone layer.
Bratton co-wrote the song with comedian Vance DeGeneres, who has a long history in music and is best known today as the brother of Ellen DeGeneres and for his work on “The Daily Show.” The two met on the set of “The Office” and have been musical collaborators ever since.
Other songs on “Tao Pop” include the dreamy “Chip in My Brain,” the playful “Toy Boat,” and the poignant “I’ll Always Be Dreaming of You,” which Bratton co-wrote with multi-instrumentalist Dillon O’Brian. Bratton continues to play monthly at L.A. club the Baked Potato and has plans for a series of shows in the U.K. to promote the album.
Looking ahead, Bratton hopes to take on new, interesting characters in TV or movies and continue making music. At 81, he is content with the way things are going in his life and is grateful for the opportunities he has had.
While fans may be disappointed that Creed Bratton won’t be part of “The Office” reboot, they can look forward to his new music and future projects. The legacy of the original series lives on, and the new show has the potential to create its own unique magic.
