Domhnall Gleeson Trades Chilling Villains for Comedy Gold in ‘The Paper’

Streaming platforms have perfected the art of luring viewers into endless scrolls of comfort and content, but every so often, a show appears that refuses to let you binge lazily. It demands attention, awkward laughs, and a touch of nostalgia, like stepping into a universe you thought you knew but with a fresh coat of absurdity. Domhnall Gleeson’s latest project, The Paper, is exactly that kind of delightful, chaotic disruption waiting to make you rethink comedy.

While nostalgia tugs at your heartstrings, the awkward brilliance of Gleeson’s character promises both laughs and existential questions about how villainous energy translates into comedic gold.

Domhnall Gleeson steps into unfamiliar territory with The Paper

Domhnall Gleeson, known for his chilling roles like General Hux in Star Wars and the unhinged serial killer in The Patient, is now turning heads in comedy with The Paper. Speaking on Late Night with Seth Meyers, he said, “It’s a new show… It does not feel like a remake in any way, shape, or form.” Ned Sampson’s awkward ambition gives Gleeson room to flex both humor and intensity.

Set in the same universe as The Office, The Paper balances cringeworthy comedy with surprisingly heartfelt moments. Domhnall Gleeson told Late Night with Seth Meyers that the show stands independently, letting him avoid copying Michael Scott. Critics rave that his portrayal is likable yet comically flawed, proving he can trade chilling villains for comedic gold without losing the magnetic intensity audiences adore.^[1]

As laughter mingles with nostalgia, the premiere reveals that behind every gleeful scene lies grueling dedication, from chaotic auditions to actor pilgrimages through the Midwest newsroom landscape.

The Paper premiere reveals the intense struggle behind effortless laughs

At The Paper’s Los Angeles premiere, nostalgia collided with chaos as original The Office cast members rolled in like a reunion of awkward hugs and subtle side-eye. Amid awkward hugs and cameo spotting, Sabrina Impacciatore confessed to Variety that her audition was “the most difficult of [her] entire existence.” After a 24-hour flight and scraping through English lines, her performance landed like a cinematic hurricane: messy, intense, unforgettable, reminding everyone that true comedy sometimes requires surviving your own personal storm.^[2]

The premiere gathered The Office alums like Ellie Kemper, Creed Bratton, and Kate Flannery alongside fresh faces, turning the event into a full-blown storm of nostalgia and unpredictable energy. Between grueling auditions, obsessive method prep, and chaotic newsroom antics, The Paper stakes its claim as a gleeful, anarchic extension of The Office universe, delivering familiar laughs with a twist of wild, irresistible new chaos that makes fans both smile and question if they ever really knew comedy at all.

What are your thoughts on Domhnall Gleeson trading villainous chills for chaotic comedy brilliance? Let us know in the comments below.