An Apple TV+ teaser image for the second season of ‘Severance’
“Severance” isn’t just surviving the wait for season three, it’s becoming the breakout franchise Apple TV+ has been chasing the very beginning.
With “Severance” season 3 in development and the show’s cultural footprint continuing to grow, Apple TV+ seems to have stumbled into something it’s been chasing since launch: a franchise with legs.
What began as an idea born from one creator’s experience with “corporate misery”, throughout two seasons evolved into a rare watercooler show. And one that’s not only critically acclaimed but also increasingly mainstream.
Terms like “innie” and “outie” have made their way into everyday conversation. The show’s presence has spilled out into real-world spaces like Grand Central Station and even Madison Square Garden.
All this hype isn’t just good for “Severance.” It’s good for Apple.
Yes, Apple TV+ has racked up both nominations and awards and yes, it has garnered its fair share of prestige. But it still doesn’t have the cultural cache of some of its larger competitors.
Many of its hits, while popular on the service, struggled to break out into the mainstream. Its second popular most series, “Ted Lasso,” was the first of its offerings to really drive subscribers to the platform.
But now, “Severance,” is being discussed in the context of spin-offs and merchandise. This is the kind of franchise-building talk usually reserved for the likes of HBO or Disney+ — not generally something you’d see at Apple TV+.
And yet, Ben Stiller, who executive produces the show, confirmed in a new interview with Variety, he’s got not one, but two potential spinoff concepts. Of course, he didn’t bother to elaborate on what stage of development the spin-offs are in, or if they’ve even been discussed with Apple.
In addition to spin-offs and merchandise, Stiller would like to see a “Severance” video game. Adam Scott, who plays Mark Scout in the series, agrees.
Given the three-year gap between seasons and the behind-the-scenes hiccups that have reportedly occurred, the fact that “Severance” is still gaining steam says a lot. For Apple, which is still trying to justify the streaming service’s long-term existence beyond being a nice value-add for hardware buyers, that momentum is invaluable.
