‘The Paper’ Season 3—Will the ‘The Office’ Spinoff Be Renewed Again?

‘The Paper‘ has emerged as one of Peacock’s standout comedy successes, and with Season 2 premiering this week, fans are eager to know what lies ahead for the Toledo Truth Teller newsroom. This mockumentary spinoff of ‘The Office’ received an incredibly swift vote of confidence from NBCUniversal during its initial run, leading viewers to wonder if history might repeat itself.

So, is there a Season 3 of ‘The Paper’ in the pipeline? Here’s everything confirmed so far, along with insights based on the show’s impressive track record.

Currently, neither Peacock nor NBC has made an official announcement regarding a third season of ‘The Paper.’ Unlike the swift renewal for Season 2, which occurred before Season 1 even aired, the timeline for a potential Season 3 is less certain.

This contrasts sharply with the show’s previous renewal history. The announcement for Season 2 came a full day before its debut on the streaming platform, fueled by strong early buzz within NBCUniversal. Stars Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore shared the news on NBC’s Today show that same week.

Given this unprecedented early renewal, many fans believe a Season 3 order is a given. However, streaming platforms typically wait to assess viewership and critical reception before making further commitments. Thus, a confirmation for Season 3 is more likely to come after Season 2 has had time to resonate with audiences.

Before any discussions about Season 3 can progress, Season 2 of ‘The Paper’ must premiere and perform well. Set to debut on Peacock on September 9, 2026, all ten episodes will be available for binge-watching, mirroring the ten-episode format of Season 1.

The new season finds the Toledo Truth Teller newsroom in a stronger position after the team gains recognition at the Ohio Journalism Awards. However, this victory does not ease the challenges for the staff. Editor-in-chief Ned Sampson, portrayed by Gleeson, is determined to pursue a significant story involving a local private club, a quest that ultimately jeopardizes the paper’s future.

Season 2 will also delve into the developing romance between Ned and reporter Mare, played by Chelsea Frei, continuing a storyline hinted at in the Season 1 finale. The Season 2 trailer teases the aftermath of that cliffhanger kiss, as the two characters navigate a secret relationship amid the chaos of the newsroom. Most of the original cast will return for the new episodes, including Gleeson, Impacciatore, Frei, Melvin Gregg, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Tim Key, Ramona Young, Eric Rahill, Duane Shepard Sr., Alex Edelman, and Oscar Nuñez.

If Season 2 receives the same positive reception that led to its early renewal, an announcement for Season 3 could follow within weeks or months of the September 9 premiere, rather than years.

The connection to ‘The Office’ is a significant factor in the anticipation surrounding ‘The Paper.’ As a spinoff of one of the most beloved comedies in television history, the series follows the same documentary crew that captured the antics of Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch, this time focusing on a struggling Midwestern newspaper.

Oscar Nuñez reprises his role as Oscar Martinez, alongside Bob Vance, as the only characters to have crossed over from the original series. The show was created by Greg Daniels, who also developed the American version of ‘The Office,’ collaborating with Michael Koman on this new series.

Daniels has discussed the challenges of following up a cherished original, expressing interest in how the broader ‘Office’ fanbase would respond to the new show. The early Season 2 order indicates that this cautious optimism was well-founded, paving the way for the series to expand the universe Daniels initially created at Dunder Mifflin.

The show has featured guest stars such as Tracy Letts, Molly Ephraim, Mo Welch, Allan Havey, Nate Jackson, and Nancy Lenehan, providing a rich pool of comedic talent to draw from if the story continues into a third season.

Renewals in the streaming landscape increasingly depend on engagement metrics rather than just star power, and ‘The Paper’ has already demonstrated its ability to respond quickly when data looks promising. The binge-release strategy for Season 1 was a last-minute decision by Peacock after executives noted positive early feedback and recognized the shift in how ‘The Office’ audience consumes content.

International rights for Season 2 have also been secured, with Sky acquiring exclusive UK and Ireland rights, indicating that NBCUniversal views ‘The Paper’ as a global asset worth developing. Within Peacock’s comedy lineup, ‘The Paper’ stands alongside ‘Ted’ as one of only two comedies to receive a renewal in that cycle, placing it in a select group.

With Season 2 now available for streaming and the Ned and Mare storyline set to dominate discussions, all signs suggest that a decision regarding Season 3 will likely be made in the weeks following the September 9 release, provided the viewership numbers hold up as they did previously.

Are you hoping that Ned and Mare’s secret romance lasts long enough to carry the Toledo Truth Teller into a third season?