‘The Office’ to end after upcoming ninth season

“The Office” will end after next season -- that’s what he said … he being executive producer Greg Daniels.

In a conference call with reporters Tuesday, Daniels said the veteran comedy would come to an “exciting” close in May, after its ninth season.

“All questions will be answered this year,” he said during the call -- one of them being who is behind the documentary that has been chronicling the lives of the paper hustlers.

Daniels also teased that some familiar Scranton-ites -- though he would not name them -- will make appearances as the show nears its end.

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If you’re hoping for a return of “that’s what she said” master Michael Scott (Steve Carell), keep those fingers and George Foreman-grilled toes crossed: “We would certainly wish for it,” Daniels said.

Still NBC’s highest-rated scripted series, “The Office” underwent a ratings slump last season following the Carell’s exit.

Some other players have also left (James Spader) and others are to focusing on new projects.

Mindy Kaling, who played fast-talking Kelly Kapoor for eight seasons, is headlining her own comedy on Fox in the fall, though she will make a couple of “Office” appearances in the upcoming season.

Rainn Wilson is concentrating on helming an “Office” spinoff about Schrute Farm but will still appear in the final season of the show.

“If we didn’t let it end this year, I don’t think we would have been able to tell the ending stories of so many characters,” Daniels said.

The ninth season is set to premiere Sept. 20.

[For the Record, 1:24 p.m. Aug. 21: An earlier version of this post stated that Rainn Wilson had left “The Office.” He is remaining with the show through its final season.]

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