 Kinsey and Wilson also noted that the cast and crew could neither " confirm nor deny " but were " hoping " for a return of Steve Carell as Michael Scott . In mid @-@ December , Krasinski later revealed that he was optimistic about a return ; in an interview with E ! Online Krasinski said that the producers were supposedly " still trying to figure out [ Carell 's ] schedule " and that the finale " just wouldn 't be the same without him " . However , NBC chairman Robert Greenblatt later admitted during an interview that while he is " hopeful " , he does not think Carell will return ; he noted that Carell was satisfied with his character 's exit and did not want to tarnish it . On January 16 , Daniels revealed that Carell would not appear in the finale in any capacity , a decision that Carell later reiterated . Three months later , however , the producers for The Office mounted " an 11th hour effort last month " to get Carell to make a cameo in the show 's final episode , according to TVLine . Carell 's personal representative confirmed that Carell was on the set for the final episode , but that he did not film any scenes . However , an anonymous source close to the show cryptically said " don 't rule anything out " . TVLine later reported on May 6 , that Carell would appear in a cameo , although NBC declined to comment and Carell 's representatives continued to deny the reports . Carell , however , did end up returning for the finale ; his character , Michael Scott , becomes Dwight 's best man at his wedding . A month after the episode aired , Carell explained in an interview with TVLine that he " lied for months to the press , to almost everyone , really " . He noted that he " felt terribly for the cast and for [ executive producer ] Greg Daniels , because they all lied , too . " Krasinski , on the other hand , explained that " It was so thrilling . We all just flat @-@ out lied … It was just one of those things that we all vowed and had to protect " . 
