"It would've been crazy if he agreed": Fans in stitches as Barack Obama declines role in ‘Severance’ after Ben Stiller reached out

Barack Obama may be one of the busiest former presidents alive, but when it comes to his post-presidential gigs, the offer to lend his voice to a dystopian TV series, Severance, is still a huge pass. Recently, Stiller revealed that Obama had declined a role in Severance, the hit show where corporate loyalty meets eerie psychological twists.

Stiller shared that he reached out to Obama to voice the Lumon building in the show. The former president graciously turned down the offer, citing scheduling conflicts in an email.

Another tweet about Stiller's reach-out reads:

"Ben Stiller offered Barack Obama the role of voice of the Lumon building in ‘SEVERANCE’ but he passed. ‘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.”"

Fans were quick to react to this amusing tidbit, with one comment summing it up perfectly:

“It would've been crazy if he agreed.”

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Barack Obama says he’s too busy for a Severance role, and fans aren’t buying it

Fans were both amused and disappointed that the 44th president didn't have time to narrate the ominous corporate entity in Severance. Many took to social media to share their takes, and they were nothing short of hilarious.

One fan tweeted,

“What is Obama doing besides relaxing that he can’t fit this into his schedule?"

—a question we’d all love an answer to. Another chimed in,

“What’s he so busy with?? Making a top 10 playlist again?” referencing Obama’s famous summer playlists, which somehow always find a way to drop despite his seemingly packed schedule.

One user found it wild that the former president could turn down such an opportunity, joking,

"Obama turning down Severance but still finding time to drop his summer playlists is wild."

Many agreed that the thought of Obama narrating the dystopian show was simply too good to be true. One fan tweeted,

"What could have been"

Another netizen admitted,

"This is SO depressing but understandable 😭😭 if I heard Obama voice I'd freak out lmaoo."

Some users, however, were still confused by the concept of Severance altogether. One baffled fan tweeted,

"I still don't know wtf this show is about," likely reflecting some viewers' feelings about the show's mind-bending premise.

And then, of course, came the final stamp of approval with one tweet summing up the backup plan perfectly:

“Can’t go wrong with Keanu,” accompanied by a GIF of Keanu Reeves giving a thumbs-up, referencing the actor who reportedly ended up being offered the role instead of Obama.

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Background on ‘Severance’ and Obama’s Decline

Severance is a psychological thriller series where employees of the ominous Lumon Industries undergo a procedure that separates their work memories from their personal ones, leaving them with two distinct lives. The show, created by Dan Erickson and executively produced by Ben Stiller, gained a cult following with its dark, mind-bending themes and has been widely praised for its unique storytelling. Season 1’s success made fans eagerly anticipate Season 2, with high expectations for even more surprises.

The opportunity for Obama to voice the Lumon building—a central yet shadowy figure in the corporate thriller—would’ve added a surreal layer to the already intense show. While Stiller thought of Obama due to his iconic and recognizable voice, Obama declined due to scheduling conflicts. According to Stiller, Obama expressed his appreciation for the show and enthusiasm for Season 2 but, unfortunately, couldn’t commit to the voice role.

It’s unclear what filled Obama’s schedule to prevent him from lending his voice to the creepy corporate role, but Keanu Reeves is said to have been offered the part instead. While Obama’s calm, authoritative voice would have added an air of presidential command to Lumon, Reeves’ laid-back and universally beloved vibe will surely offer a different, yet equally intriguing, dynamic. Fans can’t wait to see what Reeves brings to the series in this unexpected casting pivot.