One of the more popular shows on TV is NBC’s The Office, which is an American remake of the UK’s hit BBC series of the same name. While that show starred Ricky Gervais in the lead role, Steve Carell was the main man of our own Office series.

While speaking to US Magazine on the red carpet for his new animated film, Despicable Me, Carell made things very clear. “Yes, it will be my last [season]. It’s the last on my contract, and I want to honor my contract. I am excited — just so I can spend more time with my family. I’m sure I’m going to be very nostalgic; I mean, these are some of my best friends in the world! But it will be good — it will be good for everybody.”

Carell has played Michael Scott, office manager of Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, for 116 episodes and 6 seasons so far. The most recent season ended on May 20th of 2010, and another new season had already been ordered by then. The 7th season is set to begin this upcoming fall television series, which does look to be Carell’s last, according to him anyway.

This comes as no major shock considering the star power that Carell has, and the amount of feature films he’s able to do. Fans of the show will be saddened by the news, but on all other fronts it makes plenty of sense.

Though Carell is leaving, it doesn’t sound like this necessarily means this is the end for The Office. If all goes well, more new seasons are still a real possibility.