In addition to managing a very busy movie career, Steve Carell has spent the past seven years making audiences cringe and laugh — often at the same time — with the zany and awkward antics of "The Office" boss Michael Scott. When MTV News caught up with the "Despicable Me" voice actor recently, we had to ask why he chose to make this seventh season of the NBC hit comedy his last.

"I was always contracted for seven seasons, and I'm going to fulfill my contract," he said. "I just thought it was time. I'm ready to go."

Carell said his decision to leave is not at all based on being tired of his beloved castmates.

"No, that's not it at all, believe me. It's really like a family," he said. "I know that sounds like a cliché, but these are absolutely some of my best friends in the world. I just felt like it was time, and I think it might actually be a good thing for the show too. You switch around the dynamic of a show like that, I think it can be a really good thing and infuse it with a different energy. I think it's positive on all fronts."

Carell added that while he hasn't heard what direction the show will take, his departure will open up plenty of opportunities for the writers and actors.

"I have no idea what the next step would be for the show, but the writers are great and the ensemble is so strong," he said. "And that's the thing: I have always felt like part of the ensemble, and for me to leave is just a member of the ensemble sort of cycling out. Whether somebody cycles in or whether they readjust within the ensemble, I have no doubt that it will continue to be as strong if not stronger."

The funnyman said, seriously, that his decision to depart was family-oriented. "For me, on a personal level, I have two little kids and I just felt like it was time," Carell said. "I wanted to spend more time and energy with them right now while they're young, so that was a huge impetus for me."

Who should become the "new" Michael Scott? Share your ideas in the comments!