Severance creator and Ben Stiller finally explained why Season 2 took so long

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Let me put something into perspective for you. Season 1 of Severance pay Premieres February 18, 2022. Season 2 of Severance pay is scheduled to release its first episode on the TV program 2025 on January 17th. That’s a break of almost three years, and fans have been vocal about how much they want new episodes. Well, thankfully they’re coming soon, and in the final weeks of this long wait, series creator Dan Erickson and director and EP Ben Stiller talked about why we’re getting the second season years after the first.

Undoubtedly, Severance pay was one of the most anticipated upcoming Apple TV+ shows Since season 1 ended in 2022. Popular for its details, double-sided characters and twisted storylines, Erickson and Stiller were keen to ensure that Season 2 met the high bar set by the first few episodes. Up to this point while I’m with Vanity FairThe creator said he made some rewrites and changes that led to the long delay:

On a practical level, it’s a very complicated show. Each character has two lives – essentially two personalities – and we’re expanding. For me, writing was the most arduous part of the process because there were so many paths we could take. And sometimes we would come up with something that worked perfectly on paper, and it wasn’t until we got there and shot it that we realized: That’s not quite it. We were never willing to allow it to become something that wasn’t perfect.

So you strive for perfection, and perfection takes time. This was frustrating for fans, and even Stiller has said he would like Season 2 sooner than later. However, delays between rewrites figuring out stories for Innies and Outies and two Strikes were unavoidable.

Speech of the actors and Writers’ strikes This happened when they were writing Season 2, Stiller explained:

It took a while to write the second season. Then we started filming in October 2022 and were paralyzed by the strike in May (2023). At this point we had completed about seven of our ten episodes and had to regroup after the strike. We need a while to prepare the show. And so we only started filming in January (2024). Then we shot from January to May to finish the final three episodes.

The Zoolander Stern – who spoke How long Severance pay needed to make it in the past – said that it notably “took a while to prepare the show.” Erickson also discussed this in more detail. He noted that because of the rewrites and the realization that certain elements wouldn’t work, they ended up building locations they had never used and had to build new sets to fit their new stories.

However, he made sure that the wait and all these changes will be worth it, stating:

(We had) whole places we wanted to visit. We had already built it or partially built it when we realized, “Oh, this isn’t going to work.” Those aren’t always fun conversations to have with the studio you’re in. 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 completely different.” But at the end of the day, it’s worth it.

So it sounds like season 2 of Severance pay was in constant change. However, considering the success and love of the first season – and all that Severance pay Theories floating around – I have no doubt that fans will be thrilled with the story that will be brought to us on January 17th.

And considering how much time, dedication and perfectionism went into these new episodes, I think the wait will be worth it. The world of Lumon is carefully constructed and the wild plot is intricate and detailed. It takes time to make things like this and I respect it Severance pay The team’s dedication to making new episodes that they are truly proud of.

They say good things come to those who wait, and I hope that is true for all of us who have been waiting for the long-awaited return of one of them The best shows on Apple TV+. Luckily it won’t be long until we’re back in the bright white halls of Lumon with Adam Scott’s Mark and the MDR gang, as the second season finally arrives next month!