He wanted Hollywood, but remained "that weird guy from 'The Office'"

Actor Rainn Wilson has spoken openly about the career disappointment he experienced after the series "The Office".

The actor, best known for his role as Dwight Schrute in the popular comedy, recently reflected on his early attempts to build a film career, including the disappointment he experienced when his 2008 film "The Rocker" failed at the box office.

"I did the movie 'The Rocker' about halfway through my run on 'The Office.' When it came out, nobody saw it. It was a huge box office flop," he said on The Small Bow podcast.

Wilson, 60, said the film's outcome was particularly difficult because he felt Hollywood had quickly concluded that he was not destined for a film career.

"It was brutal. And then Hollywood immediately kind of said, 'Okay, he's not a movie star.' That's how this business works. People who star in big movies that fail don't get second chances," the actor believes.

At the time, Wilson was already starring in the series "The Office," which ran from 2005 to 2013 and became a huge television hit. However, he said he was still pursuing a film career like that of actors like Jack Black and Will Ferrell.

Looking back, Wilson says he's grateful that "The Rocker" didn't become the blockbuster he once hoped for.

"But in a way I'm grateful, because what if the movie had been a huge success? If 'The Rocker' had made $50 or $100 million and I had become a movie star then, I wouldn't have been able to handle it. I would probably have lost my marriage. My family would have fallen apart," he said.

Still, Wilson said that not achieving that level of success was painful.

"I had the opportunity to play a lot of really great roles, mostly in independent films, but I didn't become a movie star. That was very hard on my ego and it hurt for a long time. All I wanted was validation from Hollywood, and here I was - I was that weird guy from 'The Office.' That's how Hollywood works," he admitted.

Although he was not a box office success, Wilson continued to work in television and film without major interruptions after the end of "The Office." His roles include the Fox series "Backstrom," CBS's "Mom," the first season of "Dark Winds," and the Apple TV miniseries "Lessons in Chemistry."

He also appeared in the films "The Meg" and "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story," and has written three books, including 2023's "Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution."

Wilson received three Emmy nominations for his role as Dwight, while "The Office" won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2006.