Steve Carell's role as Michael Scott in The Office was originally offered to Paul Giamatti, the star of the John Adams miniseries. NBC programmer Kevin Reilly suggested Giamatti to producer Ben Silverman for the part, but Giamatti declined the offer.
Michael Scott was adapted from David Brent, the manager played by Ricky Gervais in the original British version of The Office. Gervais also declined the American role, saying that moving to the United States and simply repeating his earlier character did not appeal to him. Several other actors were considered before Carell became the defining face of the series.
Carell was already associated with The Daily Show and had been committed to another NBC comedy, Come to Papa. That show was canceled quickly, freeing him to join The Office. His version of Michael combined awkwardness, insecurity, and occasional warmth, gradually making the character more sympathetic than the original premise suggested.