Sabrina Impacciatore has traveled to New York to attend a performance of Uncle Vanya starring Steve Carell, with the aim of asking for his blessing for her new project, The Paper. In an emotional meeting, Impacciatore recounted that she felt nervous and excited to meet Carell, who encouraged her and assured her that she would have an incredible experience in the series. “He was very sweet and warm, he told me: ‘These people are brilliant. You are going to have the best experience of your life’“, the actress shared with Entertainment Weekly.
From Papers to Newspapers
The Paper is a spin-off set in the same universe as The Office, following a team of documentarians who find a historical newspaper in Toledo called The Truth Teller. The story revolves around the new editor-in-chief, Ned, played by Domhnall Gleeson, and the manipulative editor Esmeralda Grand, portrayed by Impacciatore. After Ned’s arrival, Esmeralda finds herself relegated to a lower position and decides to undermine his authority at every opportunity.
In an unexpected turn of events, Carell and John Krasinski, who were filming a nearby commercial, visited the set on the first day of shooting to wish the cast good luck. Impacciatore recalled the moment: “We didn’t have makeup on yet. We were very anxious. Suddenly, we heard two knocks on the door and in walked Steve Carell and John Krasinski. It was amazing!”, he added.
The series features a diverse cast that includes Chelsea Frei, Melvin Gregg, and Gbemisola Ikumelo, as well as Oscar Nuñez, who reprises his role as Oscar from The Office. The Paper will premiere on September 4 on NBC and Peacock, promising to revive the charm of the original series while offering a new and exciting narrative.