New "Office" for Amy Poehler?

16/07/2008 16:35

By Nellie Andreeva

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Amy Poehler might be joining her "Saturday Night Live" pal Tina Fey as a primetime player for NBC.

Poehler is in talks to star in NBC’s spinoff of "The Office," sources said.

NBC and "Office" creator Greg Daniels have been mum on details about the project. The only actor cast in it so far is comedian Aziz Ansari, but it’s thought that the show might be built around a name actor, in much the same way as NBC’s remake of the U.K. series is anchored by Steve Carell.

Poehler’s name was first linked to the "Office" spinoff in April, shortly before the theatrical release of "Baby Mama," in which Poehler and Fey shared top billing.

After the movie’s big opening weekend elevated Poehler to a bankable film star, the rumour went dormant for a while until resurfacing with a vengeance in late June, when serious talks with the networks are said to have begun.

If the deal closes, Poehler, a key member of the "SNL" cast and "Weekend Update" co-anchor, will follow in the footsteps of Fey. She also left "SNL," where she shared the "Weekend Update" desk with Poehler, to topline an NBC comedy, her Emmy-winning "30 Rock."

NBC and Poehler’s reps declined comment.

Poehler would leave a .....continued below

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void on "SNL," where her gallery of memorable characters includes Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Another issue is Poehler’s pregnancy. She is due in the fall, and the "Office" spinoff is scheduled to debut after the Super Bowl in early February, though that might change.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

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