Ben Stiller poses in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles; FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Goalkeepers event in Manhattan, New York, U.S., September 20, 2017.
| Photo Credit: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP and REUTERS/Elizabeth Shafiroff
Actor Ben Stiller, who executive produces and directs Apple TV+’s hit series Severance, has revealed that he had approached former United States President Barack Obama for a guest voice role in the ongoing second season of the show.
Stiller revealed the same while appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Stiller revealed that he had asked Obama to voice the narration of Lumon’s puppet propaganda video, a role which was eventually done by Hollywood star Keanu Reeves. “There was one person that I asked before [Reeves], and he said no: President Barack Obama.” said Stiller.
Stiller added more context, explaining how he reached Obama via a friend who knows his lawyer. “I knew someone who knew his lawyer. And his lawyer said he can relay the request if I write an email. So I wrote an email saying, ‘Hey, we have this show, whatever.’”
“Two days later, I get an email back from President Barack Obama. ‘Hey Ben, big fan of the show, love Season 1, can’t wait for Season 2. Don’t think I have time in my schedule to make this happen.”’
“What’s more important than doing the voice-over for the animated building in Severance?” Stiller quipped. “It was pretty cool that he responded,” he added.
Directed and executive produced by Stiller, who helms five episodes this season, Severance features Adam Scott, Britt Lower, John Turturro, Christopher Walken, Patricia Arquette, and more. Season two introduced new faces, including Sarah Bock, Gwendoline Christie, Merritt Wever, and Bob Balaban.
The series has also enlisted directors Uta Bresiewitz, Sam Donovan, and Jessica Lee Gagné. Series creator Dan Erickson continues to lead the writing and production team, with Fifth Season serving as the studio behind the series.
Season one of Severancegarnered widespread acclaim, earning 14 Emmy nominations and several major industry awards, including Writers Guild and Screen Actors Guild nods. The second season of the dystopian workplace thriller premiered on January 17, with episodes releasing every Friday until March 21
Published – March 05, 2025 01:38 pm IST
