Rainn Wilson reveals he was 'mostly unhappy' filming The Office

Rainn Wilson reveals he was ‘mostly unhappy’ while filming The Office as he felt like he missed out on MILLIONS by not being movie star: ‘I wasn’t enjoying it’

Just like his iconic character Dwight Schrute didn’t think being the assistant to the regional manager was enough, Rainn Wilson didn’t believe that having one of the main roles on a hit sitcom was enough.

The 57-year-old actor – who recently shared a funny video of a fellow flight passenger binging The Office – got candid about his time on The Office over nine seasons from 2005 to 2013 as he revealed that he was ‘mostly unhappy’ during filming.

Rainn made the surprising revelation during an episode of podcast Club Random With Bill Maher which debuted on Sunday.

He explained: ‘When I was [on] The Office, I spent several years really mostly unhappy because it wasn’t enough. 

‘I’m realizing now, like, I’m on a hit show, Emmy nominated every year, making lots of money, working with Steve Carell and Jenna Fischer and John Krasinski and these amazing writers and incredible directors like Paul Feig. I’m on one of the great TV shows. People love it. I wasn’t enjoying it.’

Disease of more: Just like his iconic character Dwight Schrute didn’t think being the assistant to the regional manager was enough, Rainn Wilson didn’t believe that having one of the main roles on a hit sitcom was enough; he is pictured in June 2022

Opening up: The 57-year-old actor got candid about his time on The Office over nine seasons from 2005 to 2013 as he revealed that he was ‘mostly unhappy’ during filming

The Seattle native said that at the time he was a victim of the disease of more as he focused on what he did not have instead of savoring his success at the time.

He said: ‘I was thinking about, “Why am I not a movie star? Why am I not the next Jack Black or the next Will Ferrell? How come I can’t have a movie career? Why don’t I have this development deal?”

‘I was making hundreds of thousands [but] I wanted millions. And I was a TV star, but I wanted to be a movie star. … It was never enough. Humans have lived for hundreds of thousands of years, and “never enough” has helped us as a species.’ 

In 2008, Rainn did have his chance to be the leading man in a comedy film in The Rocker, however, it did not generate much box office success as it only earned $8.8million. 

Rainn definitely seems at peace with his role on the highly-popular sitcom nowadays as just a few months ago he caught a man binging The Office on a flight he happened to be on back in April.

Wilson secretly filmed the man and poked fun at how he had no idea he was sitting next to one of the show’s stars.

‘When the person sitting next to you has no idea who you are….’ captioned the actor, who shared the hilarious clip to Instagram. 

Wilson’s Dwight appeared on the screen in front of the man several times while he captured the once in a lifetime moment.

Rainn made the surprising revelation during an episode of podcast Club Random With Bill Maher which debuted on Sunday as he explained: ‘When I was [on] The Office, I spent several years really mostly unhappy because it wasn’t enough’

Flop: In 2008, Rainn did have his chance to be the leading man in a comedy film in The Rocker, however, it did not generate much box office success as it only earned $8.8million.

The Office aired on NBC for nine seasons from 2005 to 2013 and turned the likes of Steve Carell and John Krasinski into household names.

It follows the office lives of Dunder Mifflin employees working at the fictional paper company’s Scranton, Pennsylvania-based branch.

Wilson’s character Dwight Schrute is not only a paper salesman but also a devoted assistant to regional manager Michael Scott (Carell). 

SNL alum Greg Daniels adapted the series from the UK version created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, but it was given a lighter feel.

It’s shot in single-camera, mockumentary style and features the comedic writing talents of Mindy Kaling, B.J. Novak and Paul Lieberstein.

Wilson, Carell, Krasinski, Novak and actress Jenna Fischer are billed as the show’s main cast, but it also features performances by Kaling, Lieberstein, Ellie Kemper, Ed Helms and Angela Kinsey among others.

The series finale, which received critical acclaim, originally aired on May 16, 2013 and was viewed by an estimated 5.69 million viewers. 

Despite going off the air a decade ago, The Office was the most-watched show on Netflix during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

It racked up 57.1 billion total minutes of viewing, which made it the top streamed show in the U.S, according to Nielsen. 

But It moved exclusively to NBC’s streaming service Peacock in January 2021. 

The licensing deal cost a reported $500 million. 

It reportedly shortly after the move that The Office was actually earning more viewers on Peacock than it did when it was on Netflix and was driving more traffic to the service’s other programs.

Caught! Rainn definitely seems at peace with his role on the highly-popular sitcom nowadays as just a few months ago he caught a man binging The Office on a flight he happened to be on back in April

Wilson, 57, secretly filmed the man and poked fun at how he had no idea he was sitting next to one of the show’s stars. Wilson’s Dwight appeared on the screen in front of the man several times while he captured the once in a lifetime moment

‘When the person sitting next to you has no idea who you are….’ captioned the actor, who shared the hilarious clip to Instagram

Hit: The Office aired on NBC for nine seasons from 2005 to 2013 and turned the likes of Steve Carell and John Krasinski into household names; (L-R) Carell, Krasinski and Wilson in The Office

Fan-favorite: Wilson’s character Dwight Schrute is not only a paper salesman but also a devoted assistant to regional manager Michael Scott (Carell)

Going strong: Despite going off the air a decade ago, The Office was the most-watched show on Netflix during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020; (L-R)  B.J. Novak, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Rainn Wilson and Steve Carell seen on The Office (2005)

‘We’re seeing people who are watching The Office on Peacock are watching lots of our other comedies,’ NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell said in January 2021. 

‘It’s really driving Parks & Recreation and really driving Brooklyn Nine-Nine, amongst others. So, it’s kind of an ecosystem.’

It was also teased at the time that a reunion may be in the future, according to creator Greg Daniels, but that there was no set plan.

He did divulge that many members of the cast were ‘more open to it’ now that the show is exclusively in NBC’s hands. 

It would not be until January 2023 that The Office would leave Netflix UK.

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