Severance (TV series)

Severance is an American science fiction psychological thriller television series created by Dan Erickson, and executive produced and primarily directed by Ben Stiller. It stars Adam Scott, Zach Cherry, Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, Jen Tullock, Dichen Lachman, Michael Chernus, John Turturro, Christopher Walken, Patricia Arquette, and Sarah Bock. The series follows employees at Lumon Industries, a sinister biotechnology corporation, that have undergone "severance"—a procedure that splits a person's memories between work and their personal life. This creates two separate identities for employees: the "innie", who has no knowledge of the outside world, and the "outie", who lives their life outside without any knowledge of their job. Erickson and Stiller first developed Severance in 2015, with the series being greenlit by Apple TV in 2019, with Scott attached. The cast for the first season was rounded out by December 2020, and the cast for the second season was announced in October 2022. Principal photography for the series has taken place in New York, New Jersey and Newfoundland. Its first season aired from February 18 until April 8, 2022, and its second season from January 17 to March 21, 2025. Severance has been renewed for a third season. In February 2026, it was reported that Apple TV had acquired the intellectual property and all rights to the series from Fifth Season, with Apple Studios to become the production company for the series starting with the third season. Severance received acclaim for its cinematography, direction, production design, musical score, story, and performances. Its accolades include 41 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, winning 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 Award, two Television Critics Association Awards, and a Golden Globe Award, while Stiller and Erickson received Emmy nominations for directing and writing.

Cast and characters

Main Adam Scott as Mark S./Mark Scout, a former history professor and a severed worker for Lumon Industries in the Macrodata Refinement (MDR) department. Zach Cherry as Dylan G./Dylan George, Mark's severed co-worker in the MDR department, who particularly enjoys company perks. Britt Lower as Helly R./Helena Eagan, a rebellious new severed employee in the MDR department at Lumon. Tramell Tillman as Seth Milchick, the Deputy Manager on the severed floor at Lumon. Jen Tullock as Devon Scout-Hale, Mark's sister. Dichen Lachman as Ms. Casey/Gemma Scout, who serves as the wellness counselor on the severed floor at Lumon. Michael Chernus as Ricken Hale, an eccentric self-help author who is Devon's husband and Mark's brother-in-law. John Turturro as Irving B. / Irving Bailiff, Mark's severed co-worker in the MDR department, who is a stickler for company policy and is drawn to Burt. Christopher Walken as Burt G. / Burt Goodman, another severed employee and the head of the Optics and Design (O&D) division who is drawn to Irving. Patricia Arquette as Harmony Cobel, the manager of the severed floor at Lumon, who outside of work uses the false identity of Mark's next-door neighbor, "Mrs. Selvig". Sarah Bock as Eustice Huang (season 2), the young new Deputy Manager of the Severed floor.

Recurring Yul Vazquez as Peter "Petey" Kilmer (season 1; voice season 2), Mark's former severed co-worker and best friend in the MDR division, who left Lumon under mysterious circumstances. Michael Cumpsty as Doug Graner (season 1), the head of security on Lumon's severed floor. Nikki M. James as Alexa (season 1), Devon's midwife and one of Mark's love interests. Sydney Cole Alexander as Natalie Kalen, Lumon's PR representative and speaker for the mysterious Board. Nora Dale as Gabby Arteta (season 1), the wife of Senator Angelo Arteta, whom Devon encounters at a birthing retreat. Mark Kenneth Smaltz as Judd, a security guard at Lumon. Donald Webber Jr. as Patton, a friend of Ricken's. Grace Rex as Rebeck, a friend of Ricken's. Annie McNamara as Danise (season 1), a friend of Ricken's. Claudia Robinson as Felicia, a severed O&D division employee who is close with Burt. Karen Aldridge as Asal Reghabi, a former Lumon surgeon who performs reintegrations. Michael Siberry as Jame Eagan, the current CEO of Lumon. Darri Ólafsson as Mr. Drummond (season 2), an intimidating Lumon enforcer who is involved with severance operations. Merritt Wever as Gretchen George (season 2), Dylan's wife. Robby Benson as Dr. Mauer (season 2), a doctor on Lumon's testing floor. Gwendoline Christie as Lorne (season 2), a severed employee running the Mammalians Nurturable division. Sandra Bernhard as Cecily (season 2), a nurse on the testing floor.

Guest Marc Geller as Kier Eagan, the late founder of Lumon, who is worshipped with cult-like devotion within the company; he is represented throughout the series in sculptures, paintings, and audio recordings. Cassidy Layton as June Kilmer (season 1), Petey's daughter. Joanne Kelly as Nina (season 1), Petey's ex-wife. Ethan Flower as Angelo Arteta (season 1), a Lumon-backed state senator who supports legalizing the severance procedure and is married to Gabby Arteta, with whom he has three children. Rajat Suresh as Balf (season 1), a friend of Ricken's. Bob Balaban as Mark Wilkins (season 2), a new member of MDR, from Lumon branch 5X. Alia Shawkat as Gwendolyn Y. (season 2), a new member of MDR, from Lumon branch 5X. Stefano Carannante as Dario Rossi (season 2), a new member of MDR. Sarah Sherman (season 2) as the voice of a stop-motion water tower in a Lumon industrial film. Adrian Martinez as Mr. Saliba (season 2), a manager at a door factory who interviews Dylan for a position. John Noble as Fields (season 2), Burt's husband. James LeGros as Hampton (season 2), an old acquaintance of Harmony Cobel from her hometown, Salt's Neck. Jane Alexander as Celestine "Sissy" Cobel (season 2), Harmony's reclusive aunt in Salt's Neck who is a staunch Eagan devotee. Ben Stiller has an uncredited voice cameo as an animated version of Kier Eagan in season 1. Keanu Reeves has an uncredited voice cameo as an animated Lumon building in a Lumon industrial film in season 2.

Episodes

Season 1 (2022)

Season 2 (2025) Episodes in season 2 were promoted as being released on Fridays globally from January 17, but were released in American time zones on the preceding Thursday evenings.

Production

Development

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