The Office's Michael Scott role came down to Steve Carell and Bob Odenkirk after Paul Giamatti and Phillip Seymour Hoffman turned it down

UPROXX

More than 35 actors were considered for Michael Scott, according to Andy Greene's book The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s. "However, Paul Giamatti and Phillip Seymour Hoffman were offered the role, but both declined, Louis C.K. came in and read, but he was barred from starring on The Office because of a holding deal with CBS," explains Dustin Rowels. "Ultimately, the field was narrowed down to two names: Steve Carell and Bob Odenkirk. They wanted someone with a sort of 'generic Americana' feeling, along the lines of Jerry Seinfeld or Tim Allen. They liked The Daily Show alum Steve Carell because of his work on Jim Carrey’s Bruce Almighty. However, Carell was on another NBC show at the time called Come to Papa as the fourth lead, and NBC — which also owned Papa — would not let The Office connect with Carell until the show was officially canceled. Meanwhile, Bob Odenkirk 'really wanted the part,' and 'had a great take on the character.' The problem with Odenkirk — which is also what eventually made him so perfect for the role of Saul Goodman — is that 'he had an edge to him. His take was as funny as Steve’s, but it was darker,' according to (casting director) Allison Jones." Ultimately, Carell was chosen because he was more of a “jerk and a douche,” while Odenkirk was closer to an “a**hole.”