A new production update for Apple TV‘s Severance is a major blow for season 3 because it confirms the absence of one key figure.

Apple TV offers some of the best sci-fi shows on streaming right now. However, even in the streaming services’ impressive sci-fi catalog, Severance seems to overshadow almost every other show with its genius concept, brilliant performances, and compelling writing. Boasting a nearly perfect Rotten Tomatoes score of 95% after two seasons, Severance has the potential to eventually match the legacy of some of the most incredible sci-fi shows, like The Twilight Zone, Lost, and Dark. Before it achieves that, however, it must overcome some major challenges, especially after some concerning season 3 production updates.

Ben Stiller Will Not Direct Severance Season 3

Ben Stiller previously revealed that Severance season 3 is still in early stages of pre-production, which raised concerns about delays in filming and a potential 2027 release window. Now, it has been confirmed that Stiller will also be stepping back from his role as the show’s director after primarily helming it for two seasons.

Many factors have contributed to Severance‘s success, including Dan Erickson’s creative vision and the show’s incredible performances. However, a closer look at Stiller’s line of directorial work reveals how Severance is more or less a culmination of everything he has been building toward throughout his career.

Stiller made his directorial debut with Reality Bites, a rom-com set against the backdrop of the US economic recession. The movie was heavily praised for its portrayal of the soul-sapping nature of corporate work on young adults, which is the primary theme in Severance. His next comedy, The Cable Guy, was divisive but gained a cult following for its absurd yet tragic humor.

Severance adopts a similar tone by combining black comedy with some incredibly dark sci-fi subjects. Stiller’s eye for absurd humor and layered meta-narratives became even more evident with movies like Zoolander and Tropic Thunder before he helmed his most underrated film: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

Although Walter Mitty failed at the box office and earned mixed reviews from critics, the movie is a beautiful portrayal of man’s search for meaning after years of routine and emotional stagnation. The film not only features Adam Scott in a leading role but riffs on many similar themes of corporate greed, dehumanization, and rebellion as Severance.

Severance Season 3 Will Have A Hard Time Finding Ben Stiller’s Replacement

Almost all the movies Stiller has directed prove that Severance has been a perfect synthesis of the ideas he has explored in his previous films. Without him, Severance‘s portrayal of identity, absurdism, and the challenges of modern human life would not have been the same.

Given how Ben Stiller did not direct some of the highest-rated episodes of Severance season 2, the show is still not doomed to fail in season 3. However, it cannot be denied that the Apple TV sci-fi show really benefited from his involvement and could significantly decline in quality after his departure.

Hopefully, Apple TV‘s Severance will still find a way to preserve its distinct visual language and end up with worthy replacements for Stiller in season 3.

Severance

8/10

Release Date

February 18, 2022