Was Barack Obama going to be a part of Severance? Here's what director Ben Stiller had to say

Apple TV+’s streaming phenomenon Severance has captivated audiences across the world thanks to its central mystery and brilliant performances from its cast; still, the struggle to maintain a work and life balance is perhaps the most relatable concept examined on the show. Critics and keen viewers have lauded the program as one of the best currently out there, and fan theories about the actual inner workings at Lumon have been abundant online.

Ben Stiller, the show’s creator and familiar face from his several iconic acting roles, was recently on Jimmy Kimmel Live! where he spoke out regarding famous personalities he’d approached to guest star in an episode in some capacity. He revealed to Kimmel and the live studio audience that among the names at the top of that list, the one that stands out most was former President Barack Obama.

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Barack Obama’s Almost Severance Cameo

In the interview, Stiller discussed a specific Lumon puppet propaganda video that the characters' "innies" are required to watch in the first episode of Severance Season 2. When it came to casting the voice for this minor but impactful role, the Zoolander star had an ambitious vision—he initially saw former President Barack Obama as the ideal choice. Seizing the opportunity, Stiller decided to reach out, leveraging a mutual connection in the hopes of making it happen.

“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’”

Although Stiller was thrilled to receive a response from the former President, it wasn’t quite the answer he had hoped for—though it was one he had realistically anticipated.

“And two days later, I get an email back from Obama, saying, ‘Hey, man! Big fan of the show. Loved season 1, can’t wait for season 2. Don’t think I have time in my schedule to make this happen.’ And like, what? What’s more important than doing the voiceover for the animated filming in Severance? But it was pretty cool that he responded.”

Interestingly, while the former President did contribute to the project, the voiceover in question was performed by a very familiar face—John Wick himself, Keanu Reeves. Despite the role being minimal, Stiller was full of praise for Reeves’ dedication and commitment.

“We reached out to him and he was like, ‘Yeah, I’ll do it,” Stiller said, noting, “He did multiple takes, took it very seriously.”