In a time where "shared universes" are very popular, we've decided to address a very important question that could change the way you view some of your favorite sitcoms: Are The Office UK and US in the same universe?
You might think you already know the answer, but it's actually not as straight-forward. So we've compiled all the evidence which suggests that Dunder Mifflin and Wernham Hogg are separated by more than just the Atlantic Ocean!
On the other hand, there's also some evidence which suggests that both shows are indeed connected. So, are The Office UK and US in the same universe? Let's find out...
Related: Is The Office UK or US Better?
Is The Office US a Remake?
It's no mystery that The Office US is a remake of the British show which aired from 2001 to 2002. From the humor to the storylines, and the characters to the company, there's a lot of symmetry between the two shows.
Granted that the US version lasts seven seasons longer than the UK one, and as such, fleshes out recycled storylines inspired from the original show, but ultimately, The Office US is, more or less, a remake.
As this is the case, it's odd to think that both shows exist in the same universe. If they do, does this mean that the Dunder Mifflin employees are essentially doppelgangers of Wernham Hogg's Slough-based staff?!
Is it a coincidence that both branches host eerily similar storylines? While this should all be taken with a pinch of salt, the fact that The Office US is, in the beginning, a shot-for-shot remake suggests anything but a shared universe.
However, there's a certain cameo that throws this theory up in the air entirely...
Related: Will The Dropout Be on DVD or Blu-Ray, and When Will It Be Released?
Does David Brent appear in the US Office?
David Brent (Ricky Gervais, who is also executive producer on the US show) shows up in The Office US in Season 7's "The Seminar". While it's a very brief cameo during the prologue, David Brent and Michael Scott cross paths.
The scene doesn't serve the story in any way whatsoever, but it's hilarious and heart-warming to watch the two realize that they may as well have been twins separated at birth.
He even announces himself as David Brent, and this isn't the only cameo in the US show - Brent later re-appears in Season 8's "Search Committee", when interviewing for the role of Scranton's Regional Manager.
So, David Brent's appearance in the show suggests that The Office US and The Office UK must share the same universe. Brent is even looking for a job during both cameos, which is in line with his dismissal in The Office UK's Season 2.
But be that as it may, it doesn't change the fact that both Wernham Hogg and Dunder Mifflin are mirror images of each other. How do we explain this?!
Related: Will Monsters At Work Be on DVD or Blu-Ray, and When Will It Be Released?
Is The Office US based on The Office UK?
We've already established that The Office US is pretty much a remake of The Office UK, but remakes don't always follow the same path of the originals, whether it's a movie or a TV show.
In the case of The Office US, however, to say that it's "based" on the UK version is both true and false. While the first two seasons of the show are almost mirror images of The Office UK, for the most part, The Office US is its own thing.
Each show has its own identity, and though there are countless similarities between the two, thinking of The Office US as a remake is also a little lazy. At first, sure, but it does have its own original characters and storylines (mostly).
But does everything we've covered finally answer the question: Are The Office UK and US in the same universe? Well, as weird as it is that both Dunder Mifflin and Wernham Hogg are eerily alike, we think the answer is yes!
After all, you could always argue that almost every office in the world, whether it's a paper merchant or a call center, has a Dawn/Pam, a Dwight/Gareth, a Tim/Jim, a Kevin/Keith, or a narcissistic boss like David and Michael.
But the key is David Brent, who appears in both shows. Unless of course, he's from the multiverse, in which case we're left wondering whether we'll ever get a crossover reunion show or movie in the form of The Office: No Way Home...
Related: Which Non-MCU Marvel Movies Are Now Canon Within the MCU?