The Paper Season 2 Sets September Premiere, Full Cast Returns to Peacock

Peacock’s The Paper, the mockumentary spin-off set in the universe of The Office, will drop its entire second season on September 9, 2026, bringing back all 11 series regulars from its debut year.

The streamer confirmed the return of Domhnall Gleeson as Ned Sampson, the optimistic editor-in-chief of the struggling Toledo Truth Teller, alongside Sabrina Impacciatore, Chelsea Frei as Mare Pritti, Melvin Gregg, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Alex Edelman, Ramona Young, Tim Key, Eric Rahill, and Duane Shepard Sr.

Oscar Nuñez also returns, reprising the role he originated on The Office.

All 11 Cast Members Return

The complete ensemble retention signals Peacock’s commitment to the series, which launched last year to stronger critical notice than the show that inspired it.

The same documentary crew that once chronicled the Dunder Mifflin Scranton branch now turns its cameras on the historic Midwestern newspaper, where passionate journalists and not-so-competent staff members navigate the chaos of an under-funded workplace.

Keeping every principal actor in place gives the new season a rare continuity advantage for a second-year comedy, allowing writers to deepen relationships established in the first run without introducing replacement dynamics.

Season 2 Storylines

The official synopsis from Peacock outlines the new storylines: “In season two, after sweeping the Ohio Journalism Awards, Ned searches for a journalistic crusade, coming for a local private club and jeopardizing the paper, while he and Mare try to figure out their attraction, Esmeralda struggles to find her place, and the staff gradually mature as reporters.”

The season places Ned’s editorial ambitions in direct conflict with the financial survival of the Toledo Truth Teller, a setup that trades the workplace inertia of the first season for higher-stakes professional and personal drama.

Critical Reception vs. Original

The Paper holds an 85% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, narrowly surpassing The Office‘s 81% certified fresh rating.

The audience response has been more modest: a 70% Popcornmeter score compared to The Office‘s 89%.

The critical edge over its parent series is notable for a first-season mockumentary, though the gap in audience scores suggests the spin-off has yet to cultivate the same multi-decade fan base.

The September premiere gives Peacock a fall comedy launch tied to a recognizable franchise, with a returning cast and a clear narrative escalation from the awards-plot hook into a storyline that puts the paper itself at risk.

Sources

• Justjared