Lifestyle | Steve Carell Will Ferrell Heads to The Office Guest arc to smooth over post-Carell period By Nick McMaster Posted Jan 27, 2011 2:06 PM CST Copied In this Nov. 15, 2010 file photo, Will Ferrell poses at the premiere of the film "Burlesque" in Los Angeles. Ferrell will play a visiting branch manager over an arc of several episodes on "The Office." (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, file) It's hard to imagine The Office without Steve Carell, but the show is hiring a major talent (at least temporarily) to distract viewers from the departure of its iconic boss: Will Ferrell. Ferrell is to play another Dunder Mifflin/Sabre manager who gets involved with the office after Carell's character leaves—and by all indication, Ferrell's character will make Michael Scott like a paragon of competence. Ferrell is just on for a guest arc however, reports the LA Times. Carell's permanent replacement remains a mystery. Read These Next Colbert tells audience it's curtains for his Late Show. This is why you don't wear metal in MRI rooms. Rare cancer claims a former Super Bowl champ. Two of Iran's enrichment sites reportedly could be back soon. Report an error