The Role of Michael Scott Was Almost Played by Other The Office Star
Steve Carrel's deadpan delivery of Michael Scott's awkwardness was one of the most memorable things about The Office.
But the first person to audition for the role of Regional Manager at Dunder Mifflin was actually Rainn Wilson who ended up playing Dwight Schrute instead.
Dwight was a very different type of character from Michael Scott, with his own particular outlook on life and selection quotes. Both men clearly suffered from low self-esteem and were both frustrating and loveable in equal measure.
But while Steve Carrel's character was so desperate to be loved, Rainn Wilson played a man who had clearly never fitted in anywhere and failed to grasp that the things he held dear were, to most people, of no importance at all.
It's interesting that Wilson auditioned for both parts as there are some clear parallels between them. And the actor's sense of comic timing would have most probably made him ideal for either character.
By the same token, his appearance was perfect for Dwight and may not have really cut it had he been chosen to play Michael. Carrel looks every part the office manager and wears a suit well. This juxtaposition with what happened when he opens his mouth is one of the things that made the show the success it became.
Wilson, on the other hand, would like a slightly comical leader in any working environment. Now, of course, this was partly down to the way he addressed and the way the actor portrayed the character. But it's fair to assume that, had viewers been introduced to Rainn Wilson as Michael Scott, they would have expected a slightly bumbling manager from the outset.
Indeed, this is evident whenever Dwight tries to exert his (very limited) authority. He's not taken seriously for several reasons – and the character's appearance makes this ok. Try to imagine Carrel in that role and you quickly realise that it wouldn't have worked.
Of course, it's all academic. Carrel did get the gig, Wilson played Dwight superbly, and the entire show was a roaring success that is still popular to this day.
But it's interesting to look at what might have been and who could have graced our screens in different roles. For example, Matt Besser, Matt Price and Jarrett Grode all auditioned for the part of Dwight Schrute on the same day as Rainn Wilson.