The three-year delay ofSeveranceseason 2 gets a candid explanation from creator Dan Erickson and director Ben Stiller. The wait for new episodes of the thriller is almost over, asSeveranceseason 2will premiere on Apple TV+ on January 17. But it’s been a bumpy road for the breakout hit, with reports pointing to conflict between Erickson and co-showrunner Mark Friedman. The streamer has disputed those reports, maintaining that the series has remained on schedule.
Speaking withVanity Fairto preview the upcoming season, Erickson and Stiller had the opportunity to elaborate onSeverance’s long delay. Erickson notes thatSeveranceis a “very intricate show,” detailing what makes it unique and how the team strives to create something perfect. Stiller, who directed episodes of season 1, alongside Aoife McArdle, talked about howthe Hollywood strikes of 2023 impacted the thriller’s plans. Their quotes are below:
Erickson:On a practical level, it’s a very intricate show. Each character has two lives—essentially, two personalities—and we are expanding. For me, the writing was the most painstaking part of the process because there were so many ways we could go. And sometimes we would come up with something that worked perfectly well on paper, and then it wouldn’t be until we got there and we’re shooting it that we realize: This isn’t quite it. We were never willing to let that turn it into something that wasn’t perfect.
Stiller:It took a while to write season two. Then we started to shoot in October of 2022, and we got shut down by the strike in May [2023]. At that point, we had completed about 7 of our 10 episodes, and then we had to regroup after the strike. It takes us a while to prep the show. And so, we didn’t start shooting until January [2024]. Then we shot from January to May to finish the last three episodes.
Erickson:[We had] entire locations that we were planning to go to. We had already built or partially built them when we realized, ‘Oh, that’s not going to work.’ Those aren’t always fun calls to have with the studio, where you’re. like, ‘Hey, you know that thing you put a lot of resources into? Well, we’re not going to do it now, or we’re going to do something that’s totally different.’ But again, at the end of the day, it’s worth it.
What The New Comments Mean For Severance Season 2
The Show Has A Lot To Live Up To
The upcoming installment will pick up after the thrillingSeveranceseason 1 finale, which saw the so-called innies mere moments away from achieving a major breakthrough right before the status quo is reasserted. Based on the trailer forSeveranceseason 2, Mark (Adam Scott) is back to work but he’s surrounded by unfamiliar faces. Some of the confirmed new cast members include Bob Balaban, Merritt Wever, Alia Shawkat, Robby Benson, Stefano Carannante, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Gwendoline Christie, and Sarah Bock.
Severance Season 1 Recap: 10 Biggest Things To Remember Before Season 2
Severance season 2 has finally confirmed a release date, but enough time has passed since season 1 that it’s worth looking back at the biggest twists.
It is a difficult enough task to add to the roster ofSeveranceactors, potentially damaging the scaled-down dynamics that made season 1 a success. But reviews and general audience reactions could prove that the decision to wait and take a little longer will ultimately pay off. And, in general,strike-related delays and gaps between seasons are not an issue that’s limited toSeverance.
Another sign of confidence, as well, is that Apple is a big believer in the series. The show has a hefty budget, reported to be $200 million albeit that number may be less for a potential third installment. It does demonstrate a level of investment and care that will hopefully be reflected in the storytelling, making the lengthy hiatus worthwhile.
Our Take On Severance’s Delay
Streamers Often Do Not Follow A Traditional Release Schedule
If there is one thing streaming series are known for, it is arguably that there will be a significant gap between seasons.Stranger Thingsis a big example.Poker Faceis another, along withWednesdayandBridgerton.Shows likeThe BearandOnly Murders in the Buildinghave managed to buck the trend, releasing new episodes every year.Severancemay follow that general line as well. There are already discussions about season 3. It looks likely that, absent any outside factors, such as a strike, the Apple TV+ Original won’t take another significant hiatus.
Cast
Severance is a psychological thriller series featuring Adam Scott as Mark Scout, an employee at Lumon Industries who undergoes a “severance” procedure to separate his work and personal memories. However, as work and life personas mysteriously begin to collide, it quickly becomes clear that not all is as it seems. Created by Dan Erickson and directed by Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle.
