LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- "The Office" executive producer Greg Daniels made it official this morning: the veteran comedy will call it quits after its upcoming ninth season.

"This will be the last season of 'The Office,'" he told reporters during a conference call about the new season. "And we're planning a very big, exciting last season." Daniels, who ran the series' first five seasons, will also resume handling the show's day-to-day duties for its swan song, taking over for Paul Lieberstein, who in turn is focusing on the proposed Rainn Wilson-led spin-off "The Farm."

"This year feels like the last chance to really go out together and make an artistic ending for the show that pays off a lot of the stuff that matters most to fans," he added. "All questions will be answered this year." Among said topics: who's behind the documentary and the identity of the Scranton Strangler.

Daniels also indicated he hopes to get Ken Kwapis, who helmed the show's 2005 pilot, to direct the finale, while it "would be fantastic if [Steve Carell's Michael Scott] would return."

"The Office" has been nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series six times, taking home the Emmy in 2006. Season nine kicks off Thursday, September 20 at 9:00/8:00c.