Three Major Names Re-Sign With 'The Office'

If "The Office" regaining some ground next season into its twilight years fails, it probably won't be over further casting replacements.

It's a done deal for Ed Helms, Jenna Fischer and John Krasinski, Deadline reports this morning. Those three key leads have all reached agreements in principle to return this fall. That just leaves actor, writer and executive producer B.J. Novak to re-sign, and everybody with an expiring deal has been secured.

That must be a relief. Mindy Kaling, whose roles mirror Novak's, looks on her way out. Her comedy "It's Messy" has been picked up by FOX. Meanwhile, Rainn Wilson's planned Dwight Schrute spin-off looks to make its NBC debut midway into the 2012-2013 season. Showrunner Paul Lieberstein looks probably to leave and helm Wilson's spin-off. Of course, this all follows Steve Carell's farewell at the end of the 2010-2011 season.

Even Carell's replacement, James Spader, was confirmed before the current 2011-2012 season's end to be leaving. Producers indicated that plans were never in place for Spader to stick around more than one year.

Fischer and Krasinski meanwhile remain busy with increasing film projects in the next year. Helms himself will also film a second "The Hangover" sequel sometime this year.