Severance’s Creators Clarify the Very, Very Lengthy Await Season 2

When Severance returns for season two on January 17, nearly three full years may have handed because the first season’s shocking finale. That’s a very long time by each metric and while its creators understand any frustration followers could also be feeling, they’ve excellent causes for the delay.

“On a sensible degree, it’s a really intricate present,” author and creator Dan Erickson told Vanity Fair. “Every character has two lives—basically, two personalities—and we’re increasing. For me, the writing was essentially the most painstaking a part of the method as a result of there have been so some ways we might go. And typically we might give you one thing that labored completely nicely on paper, after which it wouldn’t be till we bought there and we’re capturing it that we notice: This isn’t fairly it. We had been by no means prepared to let that flip it into one thing that wasn’t good.”

In order that’s half one. The writing took some time. However then there was manufacturing. “It took some time to put in writing season two. Then we began to shoot in October of 2022, and we bought shut down by the strike in Might [2023],” government producer and director Ben Stiller stated. “At that time, we had accomplished about seven of our 10 episodes, after which we needed to regroup after the strike. It takes us some time to prep the present. And so, we didn’t begin capturing till January [2024]. Then we shot from January to Might to complete the final three episodes.”

That’s half two. Manufacturing was delayed because of the strikes. Then these manufacturing delays created much more issues. “[We had] total places that we had been planning to go to. We had already constructed or partially constructed them once we realized, ‘Oh, that’s not going to work,’” Erickson stated. “These aren’t at all times enjoyable calls to have with the studio, the place you’re. like, ‘Hey, you already know that factor you place numerous assets into? Effectively, we’re not going to do it now, or we’re going to do one thing that’s completely completely different.’ However once more, on the finish of the day, it’s value it.”

Lengthy writing course of, stunted manufacturing schedule, and large overhauls. All of it is smart. And, if season two delivers, it’ll be forgotten immediately. Erickson and Stiller know, and promise, season two will deal with the various mysteries left unanswered by season one whereas additionally creating new ones. Questions like how is Mark (Adam Scott) going to cope with the information that his spouse (Dichen Lachman) is definitely alive? Is there any fallout understanding Helly (Britt Decrease) is each a Lumon worker and one among its architects? What’s going to occur to the innies who broke the foundations to contact their exterior selves? And what the heck even occurs at Lumon anyway?

“I’m excited that we lastly are at this place,” Stiller stated. “It’s an attention-grabbing course of making one thing like this second season since you now know there’s an viewers there that cares. That has been in our minds the whole time: ‘Wow, folks actually are listening to these particulars.’ My hope is that, once they see this season, there’s an consciousness that we’re attempting to attach some dots and likewise go away some dots unconnected and put out some new dots to attach.”

Learn a lot, way more about Severance season two over at Vanity Fair. It returns to Apple TV+ January 17.

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