Praise Kier, Severance will be returning for a third season.
Apple has renewed the series, which comes from creator, writer and exec producer Dan Erickson and director and exec producer Ben Stiller, as its season two finale, ‘Cold Harbor’, launches on the service today (March 21).
Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed the news in the past few minutes through a social media exchange with Stiller, writing, “Season 3 of Severance available on request.”
The news comes after Severance surpassed Ted Lasso to become the streamer’s most-watched series ever and appeared in the Nielsen streaming report for five consecutive weeks with a new weekly high of 681M minutes viewed.
Apple has not revealed when it plans to premiere season three but Stiller promised that it won’t be another three years – the time between seasons one and two – this time around. Speaking to Travis and Jason Kelce on their New Heights podcast, he said “the plan is definitely not” to make fans wait that long.
The series stars Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, Zach Cherry, Jen Tullock, Michael Chernus, Dichen Lachman, John Turturro, Christopher Walken and Patricia Arquette. Sarah Bock and Ólafur Darri Ólafsson joined as series regulars for season two, which also saw guest spots from the likes of Bob Balaban, Sarah Sherman, Alia Shawkat and Sandra Bernhard, while Keanu Reeves made a surprise cameo as the voice of the Lumon building in an animated video.
Severance follows Mark Scout (Scott), who leads a team at Lumon Industries, whose employees have undergone a severance procedure that surgically divides their memories between their work and personal lives. This experiment in “work-life balance” is called into question as Mark finds himself at the center of a mystery that will force him to confront the true nature of his work and of himself.
The second season of the corporate workplace thriller answered several lingering questions, including getting viewers closer to understanding what exactly Lumon’s severed employees are sorting on the Macrodata Refinement team.
In addition to introducing several new characters from Dylan G.’s (Cherry) wife Gretchen, played by Merritt Weaver, to Gwendoline Christie’s head of Mammalian’s Nurturing aka the Goat Department at Lumon, the show filled in several different backstories for characters. Turns out Lumon played a major role in not only Harmony Cobel’s (Arquette) early childhood and career, but also in the inception of the romance between Mark Scout (Adam Scott) and Gemma (Lachman).
Severance, which is produced by Fifth Season, is written, created written and executive produced by Dan Erickson. Exec producers also include Stiller, Scott, Arquette, John Lesher, Jackie Cohn, Mark Friedman, Beau Willimon, Jordan Tappis, Sam Donovan, Caroline Baron, Richard Schwartz and Nicholas Weinstock.
Stiller directed five episodes of season two (and six in season one), while Uta Bresiewitz, Sam Donovan and Jessica Lee Gagné also helmed episodes in its sophomore season.
“Making Severance has been one of the most creatively exciting experiences I’ve ever been a part of,” said Ben Stiller. “While I have no memory of this, I’m told making season three will be equally enjoyable, though any recollection of these future events will be forever and irrevocably wiped from my memory as well.”
“I couldn’t be more excited to get back to work with Ben, Dan, the incredible cast and crew, Apple and the whole Severance team,” added Adam Scott. “Oh, hey also – not a huge deal – but if you see my innie, please don’t mention any of this to him. Thanks.”
“The idea of getting to make more Severance with the greatest cast and crew on Earth is more thrilling to me than all the world’s finger traps combined,” said Dan Erickson. “I can’t wait to continue spreading woe, frolic, dread and malice with these truly incredible people.”
“What Ben, Dan, Adam and the talented cast and crew behind Severance have brought to the screen is undeniable magic,” added Matt Cherniss, head of programming for Apple TV+. “We’re so proud to be the home for this brilliant series and look forward to audiences experiencing what’s in store for season three.”
