Rainn Wilson
In light of the ironically named Carnival Corp. cruise ship “Triumph,” which ran adrift in the Gulf of Mexico and left terrified passengers stranded for five days, actor Rainn Wilson decided to get the ball rolling on renaming the doomed vessel. Reuters

It's the kind of news that may prompt mixed feelings among Rainn Wilson fans: Dwight Schrute, Wilson's über-weird character on the NBC series The Office, might be getting his own show.

The spin-off would feature Dwight living and working on his family's beet farm and bed and breakfast and possibly launch in 2013, according to a Deadline.com report. Fans of the show know that characters Pam and Jim spent a thwarted romantic getaway there in the fourth season.

[Producer Paul Lieberstein] and Rainn have been joking for years about Dwight's life on the farm, his family and how ill-suited he is to run a B&B, a source told Deadline.com. A while ago, it started to feel like a show to them. NBC agreed, it's been further developed to include multiple generations, many cousins and neighbors.

The good news is that Wilson -- a talented actor whose portrayal of the odd, socially inept character is one of the show's highlights -- may finally be coming into his own and getting the proper attention he deserves. He would also serve as an executive producer of the new show, according to Deadline.com.

The sad news is that it would mark another major departure from the series.

Steve Carrell, who starred as Michael Scott, the incompetent but lovable boss of Dunder Mifflin, decided to depart when his contract expired. Ratings fell after Carrell's last episode, Goodbye, Michael, which aired in April 2011.

The spin-off could be a real test of the character's enduring popularity. Imagine if Office viewers even shifted their loyalties completely to the new show. Wouldn't that make Dwight proud?