Why did Severance season 2 take so long to return? Director explains delay

Why did Severance season 2 took so long to return? Director explains (Image via Instagram/@severanceappletv)
Severance season 2 (Image via Instagram/@severanceappletv)

Severance season 2 fans are awaiting the return of the Apple TV+ thriller since the debut season left viewers at the edge of their seats. With a cliffhanger finale and the promise of going even deeper into the unsettling secrets of Lumon Industries, the nearly three-year gap between seasons has frustrated some.

However, the creators have assured fans that the delay was necessary to uphold the intricate storytelling and quality that made the series a breakout success.

Creator Dan Erickson and director Ben Stiller recently opened up on the reasons for the delay in a candid interview with Vanity Fair, published on December 4, 2024. From the complexities of crafting a show with dual realities for its characters to unexpected production challenges, including the 2023 Hollywood strikes, the journey to complete season 2 was anything but straightforward.


Why was writing Severance season 2 so challenging?

The unique premise of Severance, where characters lead two parallel lives separated by a surgically implanted severance procedure, demanded utmost care in the writing process. Speaking to Vanity Fair, Dan Erickson revealed how painstaking the process had been while explaining how it represented a delicate balancing act.

“On a practical level, it’s a very intricate show. Each character has two lives—essentially, two personalities—and we are expanding,” Erickson explained.

He further added:

“For me, the writing was the most painstaking part of the process because there were so many ways we could go. Sometimes, we’d come up with something that worked perfectly on paper, but when we got to shooting, it just didn’t quite fit.”

This constant iteration and reevaluation meant that even finalized scripts sometimes had to be revised. The team also had to make tough decisions, such as scrapping entire locations and concepts that were initially built or planned.

“Those aren’t always fun calls to have with the studio... But again, at the end of the day, it’s worth it," Erickson admitted.

How did the 2023 strikes impact the production of Severance season 2?

Like many other Hollywood productions, the 2023 Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) strikes affected Severance season 2. Production had started in October 2022, but by May 2023, the team had to stop filming, with only seven out of ten episodes completed.

“We started to shoot in October of 2022, and we got shut down by the strike in May [2023],” Ben Stiller shared. “At that point, we had completed about seven of our ten episodes, and then we had to regroup after the strike.”

Once the strikes ended, the production faced additional challenges. The production needed to be restarted, and with the elaborate sets and complex storytelling of the show, preparation was extensive, which further delayed the timeline.

“It takes us a while to prep the show. So, we didn’t start shooting again until January [2024], and then we shot from January to May to finish the last three episodes,” Stiller noted.

Will the delay ultimately pay off for Severance season 2?

The extended production period allowed the creative team to ensure that every detail of Severance season 2 met their high standards. With new faces like Bob Balaban, Merritt Wever, and Gwendoline Christie joining the cast, the show promises to expand its universe while retaining the core dynamics that made season 1 a success.

Apple TV+ still has a high investment in the series despite the delay, and reports are indicating a $200 million budget for the new season, as per Screen Rant.

Stiller echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the team's dedication to quality over speed:

“We were never willing to let the timeline turn it into something that wasn’t perfect.”

Stay tuned to receive updates about Severance season 2.

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Edited by Riya Peter
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