Severance fans have been eagerly awaiting the continuation of the mind-bending series since its cliffhanger finale in April 2022. The wait is almost over, as Apple TV+ has officially announced that the second season of the Emmy-winning sci-fi thriller will premiere on Friday, January 17, 2025. Alongside this exciting news, the streaming service has also released a tantalizing first clip from the upcoming season.
Severance is set within the enigmatic corporate world of Lumon Industries, a company so secretive that it requires its employees to undergo a surgical procedure that splits their consciousness between work and home. This means that their work selves, or “innies,” have no memory of their personal lives, and vice versa. The first season ended with a dramatic twist, as Mark (played by Adam Scott) and some of his colleagues managed to override this procedure, allowing their innies to experience life as their “outies,” leading to shocking revelations.
Apple TV+ has provided a brief synopsis for the new season: “Mark and his friends learn the dire consequences of trifling with the severance barrier, leading them further down a path of woe.” The teaser clip offers glimpses of familiar faces and locations, as well as a new character portrayed by Gwendoline Christie, known for her roles in Game of Thrones, The Sandman, and Wednesday.
The second season of Severance will consist of 10 episodes, with new episodes dropping weekly. Ben Stiller returns as executive producer and director for five episodes, while Dan Erickson continues as the creator, writer, and executive producer. The returning cast includes Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, Zach Cherry, Jen Tullock, Michael Chernus, Dichen Lachman, John Turturro, Christopher Walken, and Patricia Arquette. New series regular Sarah Bock joins the cast, along with other new members such as Bob Balaban, Merritt Wever, Alia Shawkat, Robby Benson, Stefano Carannante, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, and John Noble.
For those who need a refresher, the first season of Severance is available for streaming on Apple TV+. The season one finale left viewers with several cliffhangers. Helly R (Britt Lower) was revealed to be Helena Eagan, the newly severed daughter of Lumon CEO Jame Eagan. She exposed the company’s dark secrets to a room full of shareholders, despite the efforts of Ms. Cobel (Patricia Arquette) to stop her. Meanwhile, Mark’s innie discovered that his supposedly dead wife, Gemma (Dichen Lachman), is actually alive and working at Lumon as wellness director Miss Casey. He revealed this shocking news at a book launch party. Innie Irving (John Turturro) visited the home of his romantic interest, retired Lumon employee Burt (Christopher Walken), only to find that Burt’s outie has a partner. Lastly, Dylan (Zach Cherry) heroically held the switches to keep the mental gate open for his colleagues, but was ultimately overpowered by Milchick (Tramell Tillman).
The first season of Severance captivated audiences with its unique blend of workplace satire and sci-fi elements. Adam Scott stars as Mark Scout, a man who has undergone the severance procedure to separate his work and personal memories. As Mark and his colleagues delve deeper into the mysteries of Lumon Industries, they begin to question the true nature of their work and their own identities.
Executive producer Ben Stiller expressed his excitement about the show’s reception and the opportunity to continue the story. “It’s really exciting to see the response from people who are loving the show — and the level of fan engagement,” Stiller said. “It has been a long road bringing ‘Severance’ to television. I first read Dan’s pilot over five years ago. It has always been a multi-season story, and I’m really happy we get to continue it. I’m grateful to our partners at Apple TV+ who have been behind it the whole way. Praise Keir!”
Matt Cherniss, head of programming for Apple TV+, also shared his enthusiasm for the series. “Thanks to creator Dan Erickson, the brilliant Ben Stiller, and an incomparable cast and crew, Severance has imagined an existence that‘s equal parts riveting and enthralling as viewers around the globe can’t get enough of these rich characters,” Cherniss said. “We’re excited to go deeper into this wholly unique world and unpack more layers of Lumon in season two.”
The brief teaser for season two features glimpses of Mark Scout and his returning colleagues, as well as the new character played by Gwendoline Christie. Fans can look forward to more twists and turns as the story of Lumon Industries and its severed employees continues to unfold.
With the premiere date set for January 17, 2025, there is still plenty of time to catch up or revisit the first season of Severance. The series is available for streaming on Apple TV+, offering viewers a chance to immerse themselves in the intriguing and mysterious world of Lumon Industries before the new season begins.
Source: io9, ComicBookMovie.com
