Steve Carell, who portrayed the clueless boss Michael Scott on NBC’s "The Office" for seven seasons, will reportedly return for the show’s finale, according to TVLine’s Michael Ausiello.

While executive producer Greg Daniels has shot down speculation that Carell would return, the report says that the May 16 finale will indeed include an appearance by the actor.

In denying his return, Daniels told reporters last week, “I think Steve felt, and I agree, that the ‘Goodbye, Michael’ episode was his goodbye and he didn’t want to overshadow the ending that all the other characters deserved," the story says.

Ausiello observes: “Possible translation: Carell’s return won’t overshadow the ending.”

Carell’s return will be more of a cameo than a full-on guest appearance, Ausiello writes. It’s not known whether actress Amy Ryan, who played Scott’s soulmate Holly Flax, will join the finale of the show’s ninth and final season.

A rep for Carell continues to assert that the finale will be “Scott-free,” the piece notes.

The report adds: “On Saturday, Carell surprised thousands of ‘Office’ fans when he joined his former co-stars at a huge ‘wrap party’ held in the real Scranton, Pennsylvania.”