‘Severance’ season 2 teased by Ben Stiller and John Turturro

Finally, Season 2 of ‘Severance’ will premiere on Apple TV+ on January 17, 2025, almost three years after the first season premiered. When the sci-fi thriller returns, it will surely resolve some of the cliffhangers that had fans buzzing after the season 1 finale.

“I think it’s going to be a very interesting second season,” said John Turturro, who plays company man Irving Variety. “We delve into the unknown that the audience is waiting for, and do so step by step.”

For director and executive producer Ben Stiller, a three-year gap between seasons is hoping these new episodes will live up to fans’ high expectations.

“It’s an interesting experience,” he said of working on Season 2 of “Severance.” “I’ve never experienced it before – a second season of anything. Everything I did was canceled at the time. But you know, I feel like the audience has an expectation – that they should have if they like something. For us, it’s just been the process of trying to meet our expectations of what we think the show should be and committing to that.

‘Severance’ follows a group of employees at a mysterious biotech company whose work and private lives are ‘separated’ through an experimental procedure. The series also stars Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Patricia Arquette, Zach Cherry and Christopher Walken. Production on the first season of ‘Severance’ was postponed due to the pandemic, and filming of Season 2 was besieged by the Hollywood strikes and creative disputes were reported.

“It’s been an interesting and difficult time over the last few years to make things, at all levels, for people,” Stiller said. “So to keep the focus on trying to make the best season possible, realizing that it has taken a long time. Like other people, I get frustrated when things take a long time. I want next season sooner. So I understand that feeling of anticipation.”

Stiller continued, “It took a long time. I hope it’s okay. You know, people just want something that lives up to what they’ve been through and hopefully doesn’t let them down. And so, I don’t know, all you can do is try to do what you think is right.

With the season 2 premiere still months away, Stiller said, “I’m excited about it. We put everything into it. And it was fun to explore the story and work with these actors [series creator] Then Erikson. I’ve never had an experience like this where I’ve been on something for so long, where the characters really start to have a life and the actors understand the characters so well, and it grows into something more.”

Stiller and Turturro came by Variety‘s Toronto Film Festival Studio, sponsored by J.Crew and SharkNinja, to promote their respective films ‘The Cut’ and ‘Nutcrackers’.