'Office' producer: Will Ferrell not joining cast

What a prankster!

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Three days after Will Ferrell made the media rounds hinting that he'd be settling into a full-time gig on "The Office" as Steve Carell's possible replacement, the show's producer is confirming his comments were misconstrued.

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"Will was joking — but he commits to his jokes so fully that we're hoping he's with us long term, just as a bit that won't end," Paul Lieberstein, who also plays Toby on the series, told NYMag.com of Ferrell, 43.

Ferrell — who begins a four-episode arc April 14 as a temporary branch manager — told UsMagazine.com at Saturday's Comedy Central Awards it was "looking good" for him to join the series when Carell exits after this season.

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Nonetheless, Ferrell's "Office" mates have high praise for the episodes he has filmed.

"I don't want to give away anything, but he's amazing," costar Craig Robinson tells Us of Ferrell. "You already know he's crazy…[but] he's played it straight and it comes out beautifully. It's so much fun playing around with him."