Domhnall Gleeson Shoots Down Comparisons Between ‘The Paper’ and ‘The Office’ (Exclusive)

Domhnall Gleeson is saying not so fast to any comparisons between The Paper and The Office.

At the AMC Lincoln Square, New York screening of Echo Valley, Gleeson, 42, spoke exclusively to PEOPLE about his role as Ned in The Paper, which is slated for release in September on Peacock.

The Paper is a documentary-style comedy about a dying Midwestern newspaper’s reporters and its publisher’s attempt to revive it. The mockumentary, created by Office showrunner Greg Daniels, is a spinoff of the latter series, which ran from 2005 to 2013 on NBC.

“I don’t think my characters like Michael Scott at alI,” the Harry Potter star reflected when asked about the comparisons between Michael Scott, the hapless-but-lovable boss Steve Carell played on The Office, to his character in The Paper. 

“I think if you’re trying to compete with what Steve did or with what Ricky Gervais did, I think it would be a massive mistake,” Gleeson says, referring to Carell and Gervais, the star of the original U.K. Office series. “They are geniuses who are incredible in loads of different ways. We made a whole new character. And it’s a whole new sort of set up, but I hope people will find a reason to love him as well, just in a different way than they did the guys before.”

Gleeson, who comes from a long line of actors, also revealed to PEOPLE the advice he’s been given over the years. His father is fellow Harry Potter alum Brendan Gleeson and his younger brother is Peaky Blinders actor Brian Gleeson.

“They’re amazing people, but also my mother, who’s not in the industry, my two other brothers who are not involved in acting, we all support each other and offer advice if it’s requested all the time, but no, it’s more about support,” he explains. “I’m lucky to be a part of a family that looks after each other. And, so yeah, no, never without asking, but they’re good people to turn to in a crisis too.”

Last month, Gleeson also revealed the advice he received from The Office star John Krasinski in regard to the spinoff. “He was wonderful. I mean, his big advice that he gave me was to do it,” the Irish actor said exclusively to PEOPLE at the time. Krasinski, 45, portrayed Jim Halpert in the television sitcom. 

In addition to The Paper, Gleeson also stars in Echo Valley. The Apple TV+ show, which premieres on June 13, focuses on a struggling mother, Kate (Julianne Moore), who makes efforts to reconcile with her troubled daughter Claire (Sydney Sweeney). Things take a turn for the worse when Claire arrives at Kate’s doorstep covered in blood.

“It was a very complicated character who has a very distinct effect on the people in the film. He preys on vulnerable people, and he’s looking for every opportunity. And so it was nice to play somebody who’s just a manipulator and then find the man behind that. So I really enjoyed it,” Gleeson explains to PEOPLE about his role of Jackie in Echo Valley.