The acclaimed mockumentary series "The Paper," a spiritual successor to "The Office" linked through the fictional company Enervate, is slated to return for its second season on Peacock this September. Collider's Steve Weintraub recently sat down with co-creator and showrunner Greg Daniels and star Domhnall Gleeson to delve into what fans can expect from the Toledo Truth Teller office, promising more comedy, heart, and unforeseen challenges.

Domhnall Gleeson, who portrays the ambitious Editor in Chief Ned Sampson, discussed the show's evolution. After guiding the Truth Teller to its first Journalism Awards nominations and wins since the 1970s, Ned and his crew will face significant betrayals and a "massive problem" in Season 2. Gleeson emphasized that the aim for the new season was to make it "funnier and to give it more heart," building on the strengths of the first season. He also highlighted the continued love of journalism at the show's core and the interesting dynamic of seeing how success affects the characters. The cast, including returning members Chelsea Frei, Sabrina Impacciatore, Melvin Gregg, Gbemisola Ikumelow, Alex Edelman, Romana Young, Tim Key, and Oscar Nuñez, along with surprising guest stars, has become more "dialed in" to their characters after seeing Season 1, leading to more refined performances and a quicker start to the season's creative process. Gleeson also noted the collaborative spirit, with writers who are also actors contributing to the show's direction and a willingness to try new pairings and ideas to maximize the show's "joy."

A major plot point from the Season 1 finale, Ned's budding romantic relationship with Mare, will be a central focus. Gleeson expressed his enthusiasm for exploring the consequences of this decision, stating, "Problems are good. In drama and in comedy, that's the heart of both is problems." He believes the decision to move beyond a typical 'will-they-won't-they' dynamic immediately creates compelling new conflicts. The show will features ten episodes, balancing overarching seasonal arcs with "weird, fun episodes in the middle," including "crazy adventures" for Esmeralda and characters going undercover for a big investigation.

Greg Daniels shared insights into the production and creative process, confirming the show's shift to filming in Los Angeles. This change has greatly benefited the series by opening the door to a "ton of terrific people" for guest star roles and allowing the team to work with many familiar crew members from past L.A.-based productions, including "The Office." Daniels described the filming experience at Universal Studios as "incredibly romantic" for Gleeson, who, despite being an an "outsider" from Dublin, loves filming in the city. Daniels also elaborated on how the writers' room developed Season 2's narrative, starting with "blue-skying" ideas and ensuring everyone was on board with the overall structure, while remaining flexible enough to incorporate new discoveries and good ideas that emerge during filming.

Beyond "The Paper," both Gleeson and Daniels touched upon other notable projects. Domhnall Gleeson reflected on his experience working with pop superstar Taylor Swift on a music video, expressing how "blown away" he was by her professionalism and dedication, noting that she watched everyone's work before appearing on shows. He also teased his role in Werner Herzog's upcoming drama, "Bucking Fastard," which stars Rooney and Kate Mara and Orlando Bloom. Gleeson cherished Herzog telling him he was proud of his work and found the experience inspiring, despite not having the largest part.

Greg Daniels also discussed "The Office: Superfan Episodes" on Peacock, urging fans to watch them as a "must-watch." These extended versions include 25 hours of content previously unseen in deleted scenes or broadcast episodes, offering a "rambly and comfortable" pace that allows viewers to "meander into the side characters and get more jokes." He likened it to "The Godfather Saga" in terms of providing a different, entertaining experience. Daniels clarified that "The Paper" itself has two versions: a longer Peacock cut (28-30 minutes) and a tighter NBC broadcast version (21 minutes), with the latter missing some content due to time constraints. He also confirmed his involvement with the "King of the Hill" revival and other new projects with his animation company, Bandera, alongside Mike Judge, expressing satisfaction with their progress.

As filming for Season 2 concludes, with Gleeson heading to shoot an emotional scene at the L.A. Times immediately after his interview, the anticipation for "The Paper" Season 2 is high. Fans can look forward to its premiere in September on Peacock, with the show creators hoping audiences will be "tired from laughing so much" and their "hearts will feel full."