Steve Carell to Leave The Office Before Season Finale

Looks like Michael Scott will be leaving Dunder Mifflin sooner than expected.

Steve Carell's last episode of The Officewill occur before the season finale, according to New York Magazine's Vulture blog.

"Steve will have a number of episodes that dramatize and lead up to Steve leaving," showrunner Paul Lieberstein told Vulture. "Then we'll continue on for about four more episodes, and the spring will prove to be not about an actor leaving, but what happens in an office when a manager leaves and the chaos ensues and people vie for the job and are uncertain about their future."

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Lieberstein, who also plays Toby, added that it was important to make sure the second half of the season didn't solely focus on Michael leaving.

"It was about focusing the spring on the office and everybody else, and not just a character going. If the show was ending, it would be about that. But it's not," he said.

No word yet on who will fill Michael's position, but Liberstein did confirm the show will explore both internal and external candidates as replacements.