Few television shows in recent memory have captured the public imagination quite like Severance. Since its debut on Apple TV in February 2022, the series has been lauded for its surreal, unsettling take on work-life balance, its uncanny atmosphere, and its ability to keep viewers guessing week after week. But even as fans dissect every twist and turn, the show continues to deliver surprises—sometimes in the most unexpected places, and with the most unexpected voices.
Case in point: the second season’s now-famous cameo by Keanu Reeves. While the A-list star of The Matrix and John Wick franchises is one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces, his appearance in Severance was anything but conventional. According to reporting from Collider and other outlets, Reeves lent his voice—not his face—to an animated version of the Lumon building, featured in a video shown to the Macrodata Refinement team. The result? A moment that was both surreal and strangely moving, perfectly in keeping with the show’s off-kilter tone.
But as it turns out, Reeves wasn’t the first choice for the role. In a twist that feels right at home in the world of Severance, series producer and frequent director Ben Stiller revealed that the team initially reached out to none other than former President Barack Obama. Stiller, who had a connection through his lawyer, sent an email to Obama’s team in hopes of securing his participation. To Stiller’s surprise, Obama responded personally, expressing his admiration for the show but ultimately declining due to a packed schedule. "He was a big fan of the show but he didn’t have time in his schedule to make it happen," Stiller explained, as reported by Collider.
With Obama out, the creative team turned to Reeves. The actor, known for his warmth and famously down-to-earth demeanor, was a natural fit for the role. Series creator Dan Erickson told Collider in January 2025 that the voice of the Lumon building needed to be “warm and friendly” to reassure the severed workers watching the video. “We always wanted it to be somebody that people have certain associations with, but also, it had to be a very warm presence,” Erickson said. “The Lumon building is very friendly in the context of this video, and there’s a friendliness to that particular voice and a heart to that particular voice.”
Reeves, for his part, only learned he was the second choice after Obama during an appearance on the New Heights podcast. His reaction was classic Keanu: "Oh, I didn’t know!" he exclaimed, before quickly piecing it together. "Barack must have said ‘no,’ and I was the second choice. Oh my god, I was the second choice?! That’s OK, as long as I got the gig. I don’t care if I’m not the first." The humility and humor in Reeves’ response only endeared him further to fans—and served as a reminder that even in Hollywood, sometimes you’re not the first pick, but you can still make the role your own.
For those who have followed Severance since its inception, this quirky bit of casting trivia is just one more layer in a show already brimming with mystery and intrigue. The pilot episode, titled “Good News About Hell,” first aired on February 18, 2022, and immediately set the tone for what was to come. The story opens with a woman lying on a table in a sterile conference room, confused and disoriented, as a disembodied voice gently asks her, “Who are you?” It’s a question that echoes throughout the series, both literally and metaphorically, as the characters—and viewers—grapple with the nature of identity, memory, and the boundaries between work and home.
At its core, Severance is about a group of white-collar workers who undergo a radical surgical procedure that severs their work memories from their personal lives. When they leave the office, they become “outtie” versions of themselves, with no recollection of what transpired at work. The result is a chilling exploration of what it means to compartmentalize our lives—and the costs that come with it. The cast, led by Adam Scott’s Mark Scout, also features Britt Lower, Zach Cherry, John Turturro, Patricia Arquette, and Tramell Tillman, each delivering performances that balance the mundane and the surreal in equal measure.
Critics have been effusive in their praise for the show’s uncanny atmosphere and its deft handling of existential themes. Chris Vognar, writing for The Globe, described the pilot’s opening as giving him “that rare vertiginous feeling that must have jolted early viewers of The Prisoner,” another legendary series about identity and bureaucracy. The show’s vast, blaring white exteriors have drawn comparisons to Stanley Kubrick’s cinematic style, while its existential questions—posed with both sincerity and a touch of absurdity—have kept audiences hooked through two seasons as of October 2025.
In a world still grappling with the aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, Severance’s surreal take on work-life balance has struck a particular nerve. The notion of being able to completely separate one’s personal and professional selves feels both like a fantasy and a nightmare, depending on the day. The show doesn’t offer easy answers, but it does invite viewers to reflect on their own boundaries—and what might be lost when those boundaries are pushed to the extreme.
Of course, maintaining this delicate balance of mystery and revelation is no small feat. As Vognar notes, “the further a series gets from its pilot, the harder it gets to sustain that promise. The potential must be fulfilled, the concept expanded, the mystery slowly solved without ruining the wonder.” Through two seasons, Severance has managed to do just that, expanding its universe while keeping fans engaged and invested. The addition of unexpected cameos, like Reeves’ turn as the Lumon building, only adds to the show’s sense of unpredictability and fun.
For Apple TV, Severance has been a standout success, drawing critical acclaim and a devoted fanbase. Since its debut, the series has been available exclusively on the streaming platform, cementing Apple’s reputation as a home for bold, innovative storytelling. As the show continues to evolve, viewers can expect more twists, more existential questions, and, if we’re lucky, more delightful surprises hiding in plain sight—or in the voice of an animated building.
In the end, Severance reminds us that even in a world defined by boundaries and divisions, the lines are rarely as clear as they seem. And sometimes, the most memorable moments come from the places—and the people—you least expect.
