"The Office" will return for the ninth season on NBC with a new regular, reports EW.com’s Inside TV. Joining the series is Jake Lacy from "Better With You," the story reports.

It’s believed Lacy will play a new hire named Pete who is a possible romantic interest for Erin, played by Ellie Kemper. For the most part the new character remains shrouded in mystery.

Lacy had been cast to star in Fox’s midseason "The Goodwin Games" but was replaced by T.J. Miller after the pilot was filmed, the story notes. "The Office" is losing some of its stars, including Mindy Kaling and James Spader. Kaling is debuting "The Mindy Project" this fall on Fox.

Jake Lacy