Report: James Spader In Talks To Join ‘The Office’ Permanently

James Spader made a splash as very convincing – and slightly creepy – manager candidate on the season finale of NBC’s “The Office” a few weeks ago, and it appears he may be heading to Dunder Mifflin for good.

The former “Boston Legal” star is said to be in negotiations with the network to join the show on a permanent basis, Entertainment Weekly reported.

“In the finale, he kicked [butt],” a source close to the show told the mag’s website. “He was so funny and had this weird energy. We didn’t want to pass it up.”

While Spader, who played Robert California, a highly-success businessman who interviewed for Michael Scott’s job in a most unusual fashion, might be heading to Scranton, Penn., he may be doing so in a greater role.

The website reported Spader’s character may be getting the office manager job, before twisting that role into a corporate position as Chief Executive Officer. The move would allow Kathy Bates, now of “Harry’s Law,” to leave her character, Jo Bennett, behind.

The move would likely shake things up for the staff, a source told EW.

“Dwight has never come up against somebody equally powerful and diabolical. With Andy, he could be a real father figure and make life really hard for him once he senses he can manipulate him. Jim reads people really quickly, yet wasn’t sure what to make of this guy,” the source said.

If the negotiations end successfully, Spader will likely be welcomed by Rainn Wilson, who plays Dwight.

Rainn previously told Access Hollywood he was a big fan of the actor.

“I got to do some scenes with, really, a hero of mine, James Spader, who is, I think, one of America’s greatest actors,” Rainn said.

In particular, the spectacled “Office” star said he enjoyed trading barbs with Spader while in character.

”[He’s] a really confident kind of savant business manager type and he just really rubs Dwight the wrong way so they have these power battles,” Rainn said of the pair’s on screen time.