Steve Carell is leaving "The Office"

Steve Carell confirmed that he will be leaving "The Office" after the 2010 season.

At the Sunday night premiere of his movie "Despicable Me," Carell told E! News that, "I just thought it was time for my character to go."

Carell signed on for seven seasons of the hit show and will not extend his contact when it expires in May.

While Michael Scott is retiring, Carell expects that "The Office" will be able to survive without America's favorite bumbling boss.

"It's just one part of that ensemble drifting off," Carell said. "They've incorporated so many new characters and so many new, great storylines that I have no doubt it'll continue as strong, if not stronger, than ever."

Carell has been nominated for a slew of awards for his work on the NBC series.

Increasingly, however, Carell has landed leading roles in movies, including "Little Miss Sunshine," "Get Smart" and "Date Night." He has more than 10 projects in the pipeline.

The success of "The Office" has also launched the feature film careers of John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer, who play fan favorites Jim and Pam.