With it being the ninth and final season of The Office, all fans of the show are wondering if we’ll get a glimpse of Michael Scott at some point before the series ends in a few months. Yesterday at the Television Critics Association press tour, it was pretty much put to rest that Steve Carell will not be returning.

IGN is reporting that NBC chairman Robert Greenblatt confirmed during the TCA press tour that Carell will likely not be returning, saying:

“I’m hopeful but I don’t think he will. He left in the way that he wanted that character to leave and I think he and [Office executive producer] Greg [Daniels] have talked about it and I don’t think he’ll be back.”

This is likely disappointing news for The Office fans who have found the series to struggle since Carell’s departure at the end of season 7. Greenblatt went on to say:

“There’s maybe a little Hail Mary pass on a cameo, but I think the decision is that it will go out without him sort of comprising his exit.”

I guess fans of The Office can hold out that maybe we’ll see a cameo. It seems absurd that an iconic series that revolved around Michael Scott would wrap up without a single mention or appearance by him – both from a plot standpoint and from a fan standpoint.

What are your thoughts about Steve Carell not returning? Were you hoping we’d see him come back in some capacity or another? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.