Fans of NBC's The Office have known for months that the workplace comedy is winding down toward its finale. As the writers continue to give characters their own endings, one question has loomed: Will Steve Carell's Michael Scott make a return?

"I'm hopeful but I don't think he will be back," Robert Greenblatt, chairman of NBC Entertainment, said over the weekend at the Television Critics Association's winter press tour. "He left in the way that he wanted that character to leave, and I think he and Greg [Daniels] have talked about it and I don't think he'll be back. There's maybe a little Hail Mary pass on a cameo, but I think the decision is that it'll go out without him rather than compromising his exit."

This goes along with what showrunner Greg Daniels said in regard to Carell's potential return for the finale back in August: “We’ll see. We have ideas for the ending, and obviously if he would participate, we would have a lot of good times. The idea will fly without him if he can’t make it. He is pretty busy.”

While the exact air date has not yet been announced for the finale, The Office regularly airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/T. The series finale will be an hour long.