Ben Stiller Confirmed a Weird Connection Between Severance and The Office

Dark corridors and endless white hallways – that's what we've come to associate with Apple TV+ 's hit show Severance. The psychological thriller has captured audiences worldwide with its haunting portrayal of corporate dystopia and identity crisis.

The show told us something that we were already thinking about, and it did so in a very stylish and organized way. The genius of the series lies in its ability to make us think about the very nature of work-life balance, personal identity and corporate culture. "Is that really sustainable?" we ask ourselves after each episode, and the answer becomes more and more apparent with every watch.

And, as much as we love digging into the endless theories about the show (and there's truly A LOT), today we want to keep it a little bit light-hearted. Consider this your little break from all the drama.

Severance Was Supposed to Be a Comedy

You might find it hard to believe that this intense psychological thriller was initially imagined as a workplace comedy. Think The Office meets Parks and Recreation.

Ben Stiller, the show's director and executive producer, confirmed it during an interview to The Hollywood Reporter:

“In my mind, it seemed funny and interesting and weird, but it was based in this comedic structure of this office workplace comedy. That’s what I really responded to.”

And we're so glad it didn't become just another comedy. We had The Office, and we're already so tired of the copycats, reboots and what not. We didn't just want, we needed the originality, and this originality definitely paid off.

The Hidden Easter Egg You Missed

However, the team definitely paid tribute to the original idea. One sharp-eyed Redditor has spotted subtle nod to The Office:

“I just couldn't help but notice that Dylan's wife is dressed exactly the same as Pam Beasley was at her art show like down to the hair and the necklace. It's uncanny.”

This was during innie Dylan’s first meeting with his wife in episode 3 of season 2, titled “Who Is Alive?”.

This is such a nice detail that people who know about the show’s original plan can appreciate. And it just goes to show how much went into making Severance. They thought about every single little thing, you just gotta notice it.

Looking back, we're glad that Severance found its true calling in being a psychological thriller. We can't imagine living without its liminal spaces and complex plot.

You can experience Severance yourself on Apple TV+.