LOS ANGELES — “Severance,” both a critical and audience favorite, faced uncertainty about its production according to star Adam Scott and Ben Stiller, the show’s executive producer and director. The Apple TV+ series—an inventive, surreal critique of work culture—was initially slated for filming in March 2020 when the pandemic-induced lockdowns began. Despite challenges such as a pandemic, two notable Hollywood strikes, and a significant three-year gap between its first and second seasons, a third season was announced by Apple TV+ the morning after the second season’s finale aired.
Adam Scott shared his experience of reconnecting with his character after such a long break. Despite the time lapse, he felt continually engaged with the show due to ongoing discussions with Ben Stiller and creator Dan Erickson, which kept the narrative fresh in his mind. This constant engagement made the transition back into character seem smoother, even though the evolving nature of the character required adjustments and a broadened perspective.
Reflecting on the production process, Stiller described it as an evolving journey. Even with the precise storytelling “Severance” necessitates, creative elements remained in flux until the post-production stages were complete. Stiller emphasized that maintaining this level of adaptability was central to the production.
The filming of Season 2 began in October 2022, but was interrupted by the strike just after completing seven episodes. This pause allowed for a regrouping to finish the remaining episodes once the strike concluded. Stiller highlighted their approach of continuously reviewing and refining footage, a process that allows for creative flexibility.
Production delays due to the pandemic initially offered creators extra time to refine scripts, while Stiller’s ability to continue editing during the strike meant a seamless continuation post-strike. Both Stiller and Scott recognized the benefits of these interruptions, which inadvertently contributed to the show’s creative development.
Despite the uncertainties looming over the continuation of Season 2, Stiller explained that the footage already filmed committed them to complete the project. Yet during the first season, as pandemic conditions caused many productions to halt, doubt about the series materializing persisted. Adam Scott recalled frequent exchanges with producers to confirm that the show would proceed, underscoring his disbelief at one point in its potential realization.
