Severance Star Is “Not Thrilled” By Season 3’s Major Change

When Severance returns for its third season, there will be a major change that one cast member in particular is “not happy” about. Severance debuted on Apple TV in 2022, though fans had to wait three years for the second season.

There isn’t expected to be as large of a gap before Severance season 3, at least according to executive producer and director Ben Stiller.

In an interview with ScreenRant‘s Liam Crowley for Murdaugh: Murder in the Family, which just released its first three episodes on Hulu, Severance star Patricia Arquette expressed her disappointment with a major change for the upcoming third season.

Stiller won’t be in the director’s chair this time around, which the Oscar winner isn’t “thrilled” by. “I’m not happy about it,” she continued. After adding that she doesn’t “appreciate” Stiller’s absence, Arquette jokingly booed the filmmaker.

When asked about how the scripts for Severance season 3 are coming along, Arquette played coy, choosing to keep important information like that a secret for the critically acclaimed series so as not to spoil anything.

Well, I am not thrilled with that, I’m going to say. I’m not happy about it…I don’t appreciate this. I’m not down. Booooo Stiller! I’m going to get him back for season 3.

Along with Arquette, Severance also stars Adam Scott, Zach Cherry, Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, Jen Tullock, Dichen Lachman, Michael Chernus, John Turturro, Christopher Walken and Sarah Bock.

Stiller is an executive producer on Severance through his production company, Red Hour Productions. He directed six of the show’s episodes during the first season, including the premiere and finale, with Aoife McArdle directing the rest.

For the sophomore season, Stiller directed half of the episodes (five, to be exact), with Sam Donovan, Uta Briesewitz and Jessica Lee Gagné overseeing the other five.

While directors haven’t been announced for Severance season 3 yet, there’s one confirmed name that’s taken himself out of the running: Stiller.

The actor and producer has multiple projects lined up that are pulling him away from Severance, including directing a World War II movie, filming the next installment in the Meet the Parents series and starring in an HBO show called The Band.

However, this busy schedule doesn’t mean that he has completely left Severance. Stiller is still an executive producer on the award-winning Apple series and plans to get back to the director’s chair at some point in the future, just not for season 3.

In early 2025, Stiller announced that there wouldn’t be a three-year wait for Severance season 3. The Hollywood strikes played a part in the delay. Assuming there are no major disruptions like that again, the new season will likely premiere in 2027.

While Arquette is disappointed that Stiller won’t be directing any episodes of Severance season 3, if the past is any indication, then he and the other producers will be hiring a superb team of directors to take his place until he returns.