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 In the early morning hours in East Hollywood, chaos. CEO resigns after appearance on Kiss Cam. ICE pulls crew members off Great Lakes cruise ships. This is why you don't wear metal in MRI rooms. Report an error