Ben Stiller Says Severance’s Season 2 Big Cameo Wasn’t Meant for Keanu Reeves at First

One of Apple TV+ ’s most successful shows in the streamer’s entire history, Severance might still have a long list of big names to give cameo roles to in the future, and the ongoing second season has already featured a similar surprise for its fans.

In the new instalment’s episode 1, Keanu Reeves ’ voice was used for narrating Lumon Industries’ puppet propaganda video; the actor’s appearance (or rather voicing work) was so smooth not many fans grasped it before Severance’s producer and director Ben Stiller unveiled it himself.

However, the latter recently confessed to having considered another famous person for the role, and the idea ultimately got rejected.

Ben Stiller Wanted Barack Obama to Voice the Propaganda Video in Season 2 Episode 1

The show’s exec producer revealed his initial thoughts about who would be perfect for narrating the first episode’s video during his recent appearance at Jimmy Kimmel Live!, more than a month after the episode premiered on Apple TV+.

According to Stiller, Barack Obama was the first person he asked about the matter, clarifying that he did succeed in reaching out to the US’ former president thanks to a help from a friend who knows Obama’s lawyer.

“Two days later, I get an email back from President Barack Obama”, Stiller continued, saying that Obama’s response sounded like “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”.

Stiller then jokingly stated that he wondered whether there was something “more important than doing the voice-over for the animated building in Severance”, but admitted he’d still felt pretty cool about receiving a message back from Obama.

Keanu Reeves Isn’t the Only Famous Actor to Have Had a Secret Cameo in Severance

As the revelation about Reeves’ work on the project received quite many surprised reactions, it’s fair to say Severance’s season 1 might have had more Easter eggs than everyone expected.

Released back in 2022, the first instalment also features a pretty familiar voice when in episode 8 the animated version of Lumon’s founder Kier Eagan congratulates an employee after the latter has reached their quota.

It was unveiled later that Eagan’s voice belongs to, well, Ben Stiller, who has been on board as Severance’s producer and sometimes director all along. Only some extremely attentive viewers probably got it right, though it still might be a good reason to give Severance’s first season another watch.