Did Adam Scott predict the plot of Severance a decade ago? Explored

For fans of the Apple TV+ show Severance, which centers on the bizarre workplace concept of memory division, a rediscovered Parks and Recreation video featuring Adam Scott has sparked quite the conversation. It's as if Scott foresaw the premise of Severance over ten years ago.

In the clip shared on Instagram by user @araujonmc2, Scott's character Ben Wyatt talks to Leslie Knope, played by Amy Poehler, about maintaining a clear boundary between their home and work lives.

He describes it as being:

"Like a firewall system."

This remark is surprisingly similar to the theme of Severance, where employees at Lumon Industries have their memories partitioned into 'innies' for work and 'outies' for home. This casual suggestion practically mirrors the show's plot!

So, was it just a spooky premonition, or was it a mere stroke of luck? It seems like it was more of a coincidence. Severance's creator, Dan Erickson, had the idea for the show some time ago. Adam Scott joining the show came later on.

But when you look at it, it's amazing how Adam Scott's acting path and the show's storyline match up. He went from playing the down-to-earth Ben Wyatt in Parks and Rec to the troubled Mark S. in Severance. His career has been building up to this role, even though he couldn't have known about the show then!

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Adam Scott went from being Ben Wyatt on Parks and Recreation to Severance’s Mark Scout

Adam Scott’s journey as an actor showcases his range. Although many people know him for his hilarious work, particularly as Ben Wyatt on Parks and Recreation, he has also made a name for himself in more profound, introspective roles. But of course, this evolution didn’t happen in a flash.

Before his time in Parks and Rec, Scott had a role in the much-loved sitcom Party Down, where he played Henry Pollard, a character who faced deep, soul-searching struggles—similar to what we see in Mark Scout. Michael Schur, who co-created Parks and Rec, had initially envisioned Scott as the down-to-earth Ben Wyatt, a character who balances the show’s ensemble.

Through his acting and connection with Amy Poehler, he became a cherished figure for viewers, with BuzzFeed once affectionately referring to him as “your soulmate” in a widely shared article. According to Scott, his background in comedy has influenced how he approaches his craft.

In an interview with The New Yorker, he recalled director Fred Savage advising him during Party Down:

"You don’t have to do a bunch of stuff, or the audience is gonna get fried."

This restraint was important for Scott's part in Severance. He goes through a lot of quiet pain and follows Lumon's rules without questioning them.

As Schur put it, Scott:

“Had the opportunity to go big… but he stayed small.”

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Adam Scott’s role in the making of Severance

The eerie impact of Severance came from its careful creation of the show's world and Scott's acting. As someone writing for TV for the first time, Dan Erickson had a clear picture in his head of what he wanted the show to be like.

Ben Stiller, who is the showrunner, worked with him to make it even better. They were so focused on getting everything just right that they would change the script a lot, even when they were already filming. Scott, aka Mark Scout, was a sponge, soaking up all the information and working hard to play his role perfectly. Stiller said Scott was like a kid who always wanted more homework.

What's interesting about Severance is how well Scott could show the difference between Mark's 'innie' and 'outie' selves. He worked closely with a vocal coach, which showed the huge difference between the two parts of Mark's personality.

His acting doesn't seem fake or over-the-top, which can happen in sci-fi shows. It still feels real and spooky. Scott doesn't just act in the show; he has also become a part of decision-making for season 2 as an executive producer. But because they wanted everything to be just right, and given the Hollywood writers' strike in 2023, season 2 took a long time.

They had to rewrite a lot of the script, and they had to stop filming and start again a few times. But Scott says it was worth it to keep the show as good as it is.

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If you haven't watched Severance yet, it's on Apple TV+.