Ben Stiller and Adam Scott Tease Exciting ‘Severance’ Season 3 and Spinoff Ideas!

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As the second season of “Severance” aired and this workplace mystery series captured everyone’s attention, making it the most talked-about show on TV, Adam Scott was shooting an independent horror film in Ireland at that time. Upon his return to the U.S., he found everything had dramatically shifted.

Scott remarks, ‘It’s quite unusual strolling along the sidewalk,’ as he’s the character Mark Scout with a split brain on the Apple TV+ show. Every ten strides, someone brings up the series. I’ve even had people shout at me from their cars. And in a bakery, I came across a cookie bearing my likeness.

We’re sitting outside at an Italian eatery, sipping strong espressos, while Ben Stiller is our companion as the late-afternoon sun makes 10th Avenue’s asphalt scorching hot. It seems neither of them are mindful of the fact that every now and then, someone passing by nearly trips over themselves trying to sneak a peek at them.

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve grown accustomed to the occasional recognition from fans over the years, given my journey has been more of an upward trajectory rather than an instant leap into stardom. This career path led me to be a love interest of Amy Poehler on “Parks and Recreation,” headline the beloved series “Party Down,” and take on notable roles in hit shows like “Big Little Lies” and “Step Brothers.” Yet, I find myself in uncharted territory now as I casually lean one leg over the other.

Approximately a month after the shocking finale of Season 2, the lead actor and director of “Severance” participate in what appears to be one of the final events on their extensive, six-month worldwide promotional tour, which is starting to resemble a triumphant lap. When I interviewed them both in December before the debut, Scott and Stiller were primarily concerned with persuading viewers of Season 1 to return for Season 2. However, the show has since grown beyond what either of them could have envisioned: Originally a modest sci-fi series recognized for awards and positive reviews, it has evolved into a cultural phenomenon. Phrases such as “innie” and “outie” are now commonly used in workplace conversations. The characters and their office spaces temporarily dominated Grand Central Station and the internet for two days, and its theme song was performed before an audience of approximately 50,000 people at Coachella.

Stiller remarks, ‘To me, it’s when the keyboardist at Madison Square Garden performs it during Knicks matches that feels like I’ve stepped into paradise.’

Over a decade back, Stiller initially encountered the script for “Severance”. Penned by Dan Erickson, an unconventional writer in Hollywood, it depicted Mark Scout, a man grappling with grief, who underwent a unique process that separated his home and work lives, creating two distinct mindsets divided by an elevator within an office. As Mark and his colleagues at Lumon Industries began to uncover flaws in the seemingly perfect facade of this questionable biotech firm, hidden truths came to light. “It brought back memories of numerous elements I adored in workplace comedies,” Stiller noted. “Yet, there was also a strange, unsettling aspect to it.

Stiller found the concept entirely unique and felt compelled to breathe life into Lumon. Coincidentally, both Stiller and Erickson had considered Scott as the ideal candidate for the lead role. Thus, in 2017, Stiller reached out to him. This conversation took place just a few days following Donald Trump’s inauguration as President, with Scott immersed in snow at Sundance when he received the call.

Scott mentions that Ben briefly explained the main idea to him – essentially, the concise summary or key selling point of the concept. This idea stuck with Scott so strongly that he found himself constantly pondering over it for approximately a year and a half, until he eventually read the full script.

The main challenge was selling the series. “Only Apple showed interest,” Stiller recalls, “and they weren’t even a streaming platform back then.” It felt somewhat surreal, he admits, akin to thinking, ‘Oh fantastic, the computer company!’ But now, Stiller confidently states that Apple is an ideal home for “Severance”, not just because of the series’ links to a tech giant on such a grand scale, but also because he’s grateful they weren’t stuck with networks like Showtime instead.

Even though Erickson hadn’t worked in television before, he had a clear and comprehensive idea for the show. Stiller played a significant role in shaping its visual style with a detailed book containing references to architecture and movies that spanned several hundred pages. Unlike what was initially planned, Lumon was transformed from a typical ’90s office building into a cold, retro-futuristic space inspired by the ’80s.

With each actor’s arrival, their characters underwent development as well. Initially, Mark was depicted with an endearing sarcasm in the script (Stiller describes it as “that signature thing” Scott exhibits). However, once he started portraying the role, Scott realized that the character needed to be presented as a devoted follower of the company.

In the beginning, I too shared a small dose of skepticism towards Lumon with Innie Mark. However, I chose to introduce Mark as more of a company loyalist initially, allowing Helly’s character, brilliantly portrayed by Britt Lower, to gradually instill that cynicism within him.

During the early stages of Season 1, I, as a film enthusiast, had contemplated standing behind the camera instead. The idea was to portray a character resembling a doctor, but unfortunately, that character never made it past the drawing board (and should not be mixed up with the roles played by Robby Benson and Sandra Bernhard in Season 2). “We discussed it,” Stiller recalls, “there was a storyline we were considering, but it ultimately didn’t feel right.” I’m quite content that I’m not in it. I find great satisfaction in not seeing my face on the marquee.

The creative process for Season 3 of “Severance” is ongoing in Los Angeles, with Stiller frequently traveling to the West Coast and Scott occasionally dropping by (both serving as executive producers). However, even though they’re actively involved in the show, neither of them seem to know how to discuss it openly.

Stiller comments, “There’s a lot of interest in how it works,” he admits. “Responding to those questions can be challenging.

During the filming of Season 1, Scott decided to create two distinct timelines on a poster board for Mark’s inner and outer personality, inspired by Michael Keaton’s method in ‘Multiplicity’. He also maintained two separate script sets, each with unique annotations for different aspects of his character. However, he admitted that in Season 2, everything became one chaotic stack of materials.

Stiller remarks that everyone has their unique way of managing information, and in this case, Erickson has penned character backstories and timelines. He emphasizes that the show is not just something we watch; it’s also a part of who we are.

The popular series “Severance” has frequently been a subject of debate due to its three-year hiatus between seasons. Initially, the show’s creators attributed this delay primarily to Hollywood labor strikes. However, an April 2023 report suggested that issues such as discarded scripts, strained relationships among showrunners, and a hostile backstage environment might have also contributed to the delay.

According to Stiller, things that occur out of public view should stay that way. He prefers not to disclose the intricate details of our operations as they are considered confidential matters.

The cast and crew of the show always get along harmoniously without any strange or awkward moments. However, even though our interactions are smooth, I acknowledge that every creative process involves some friction, which is beneficial because it encourages questioning and ensures we’re making decisions that will still be valid in two years.

During the one-hour mark of our discussion, I flipped to a section in my notepad titled “Questions They Likely Won’t Respond To.” I swiftly posed these queries to Stiller.

1. “Regarding the number of episodes for Season 3, I’d rather not discuss our current progress.”
2. “As for the total number of seasons we plan to produce, I’m afraid I can’t share that information right now.”
3. “I’m sorry, but I can’t disclose whether John Turturro will be returning or not.”

Does “Severance” seem like it could expand into separate shows as part of a franchise? Stiller ponders thoughtfully: “There are two concepts – I won’t reveal – that we’ve discussed internally as potential spinoff possibilities.” When asked about the progress or whether these ideas have been shared with Apple, all Stiller replies, giving a sly grin, is: “They are in their early stages.

Regarding further expansions of the series, Stiller expresses enthusiasm for a potential “Severance” video game, while Scott concurs that it seems fitting. Furthermore, they aspire to create merchandise such as Lumon-themed keyboards, provided it appears customized and uniquely tied to the show.

Both Stiller and Scott possess showbiz resumes that many would covet, starring in movies and TV shows that have transcended the clutter and endured over time. Consequently, my final query is quite significant: Could “Severance” be considered the pinnacle achievement of your respective careers?

Scott shares, ‘Ever since I studied the script, I’ve felt this was the goal I’ve been striving for all along.’ For over two and a half decades, he’s been navigating through challenges to reach a point where perhaps an opportunity like this might come. It feels like a climax or accomplishment for him.

Stiller agrees, expressing that “At this stage of my career, having gone through it for so long, I never want to underestimate or overlook the value of this experience.

We’ve exceeded our scheduled time by thirty minutes, and it’s nearly dinner service. The restaurant is gradually filling up with patrons.

Perhaps Stiller and Scott could make a quick escape via the back door, sunglasses in place, blending seamlessly into the urban landscape. If they manage to move stealthily, there’s a chance they might evade questions about bellies, buttons, or Gemma, Helly, for at least ten steps.

All of a sudden, a powerful voice echoes from within the restaurant: “I’m simply an ordinary person from the Bronx, yet you two are extraordinarily impressive! May I possibly snap a photo with both of you?

Not so fast.

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2025-05-29 18:48