Poster · Public domainTV › Severance
Severance 2022
Black comedyComedy-dramaMystery
Severance is an American science fiction psychological thriller series that premiered on Apple TV+. It was created by Dan Erickson and executive produced primarily by Ben Stiller, who also directed the majority of episodes. The show features a cast including Adam Scott, Zach Cherry, Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, Jen Tullock, Dichen Lachman, Michael Chernus, John Turturro, Christopher Walken, Patricia Arquette, and Sarah Bock. The story centers on workers at Lumon Industries, a biotechnology company, who have undergone a procedure called "severance." This process divides their memories into two separate identities: the "innie," who retains no knowledge of life outside of work, and the "outie," who lives normally without awareness of their job.
The concept was initially developed by Erickson and Stiller in 2015. Apple TV greenlit the project in 2019, with Scott attached as a producer. The first season’s cast was completed with December 2020, while the second season’s cast was announced in October 2022. Principal photography took place in New York, New Jersey, and Newfoundland. Season one aired from February 18 to April 8, 2022, and season two ran from January 17 to March 21, 2025. The show has been ordered for a third season. In February 2026, Apple TV acquired the intellectual property and all rights to Severance from Fifth Season, with Apple Studios set to take over production starting with season three.
The series received critical acclaim for its visual style, direction, design, score, storytelling, and acting. It earned 41 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including wins for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Lower and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Tillman. Scott was nominated for a Primetime Emmy, two Television Critics Association Awards, and a Golden Globe. Stiller and Erickson each received Emmy nods for directing and writing.
Cast
- Adam ScottMark S./Mark Scout
- Zach CherryDylan G./Dylan George
- Britt LowerHelly R./Helena Eagan
- Tramell TillmanSeth Milchick
- Jen TullockDevon Scout-Hale
- Dichen LachmanMs. Casey/Gemma Scout
- Michael ChernusRicken Hale
- John TurturroIrving B
- Christopher WalkenBurt G
- Patricia ArquetteHarmony Cobel
- Sarah BockEustice Huang
- Yul VazquezPeter "Petey" Kilmer
- Michael CumpstyDoug Graner
- Nikki M. JamesAlexa
- Sydney Cole AlexanderNatalie Kalen
- Nora DaleGabby Arteta
- Mark Kenneth SmaltzJudd
- Donald Webber Jr.Patton
- Grace RexRebeck
- Annie McNamaraDanise
- Claudia RobinsonFelicia
- Karen AldridgeAsal Reghabi
- Michael SiberryJame Eagan
- Ólafur Darri ÓlafssonMr. Drummond
- Merritt WeverGretchen George
- Robby BensonDr. Mauer
- Gwendoline ChristieLorne
- Sandra BernhardCecily
- Marc GellerKier Eagan
- Cassidy LaytonJune Kilmer
- Joanne KellyNina
- Ethan FlowerAngelo Arteta
- Rajat SureshBalf
- Bob BalabanMark Wilkins
- Alia ShawkatGwendolyn Y
- Stefano CarannanteDario Rossi
- Sarah Shermanthe voice of a stop-motion water tower in a Lumon industrial film
- Adrian MartinezMr. Saliba
- John NobleFields
- James LeGrosHampton
Crew
- Creator
- Dan Erickson
- Producer
- Aoife McArdle, Amanda Overton, Gerry Robert Byrne
- Executive producer
- Ben Stiller, Nicholas Weinstock, Jackie Cohn, Mark Friedman, Dan Erickson, Andrew Colville, Chris Black, John Cameron, Beau Willimon, Caroline Baron, Richard Schwartz, Jordan Tappis
- Cinematography
- Jessica Lee Gagné, Matt Mitchell, Suzie Lavelle, David Lanzenberg
- Music
- Theodore Shapiro
Details
- Production
- Animals & People (season 2), Apple Studios, Fifth Season, Red Hour Productions, Westward (season 2)
- Network
- Apple TV
