VIDEO: James Spader Will Be The New Boss At 'The Office'

NBC’s The Office will have a new boss in charge when it returns to television this fall: James Spader. Spader will reprise his role as Robert California, who is hired as a replacement for Steve Carell‘s character, Michael Scott.

Spader’s character beat out some heavy competition in last season’s finale to land Scott’s coveted position. Jim Carrey, Will Arnett, Warren Buffett, Ray Romano and Ricky Gervais all made cameos as candidates for regional manager of the show’s fictitious Dunder Mifflin Paper Co. California, though, not only landed the job but were quickly promoted to CEO of Dunder Mifflin’s parent company, Sabre.

One of the show’s executive producers and regular cast members, Paul Lieberstein, describes Spader’s character as an “uber-salesman that has a power to convince and manipulate, like a high-class weirdo Jedi warrior,” which explains his quick climb up the corporate ladder.

“James has an energy that is completely his own, and ‘The Office’ has no tools for dealing with this guy,” Lieberstein said in a statement to Access Hollywood. “We’re thrilled he’s joining our cast.”

Spader is best known for his role as attorney Alan Shore on ABC’s Boston Legal and The Practice, for which he won three Emmys. He’s also starred in films Pretty in Pink, Sex, Lies and Videotapes, Secretary and Crash. Fans can catch him as the new head honcho on The Office during its season eight premiere on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 9:00 p.m.