Ben Stiller Nearly Played a Doctor in Severance Season 1

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Ben Stiller shared that he originally intended to portray a character in the first season of “Severance”, but this didn’t materialize. Known for his slapstick humor in films like “There’s Something About Mary” (1998), “Zoolander”, and “Tropic Thunder” (2008), Stiller switched gears for “Severance”. Instead of acting, he assumed the roles of director and executive producer for both seasons, which have been highly successful. Although being behind the scenes has served him well, as we look forward to season 3, Stiller has disclosed that he almost played a character in the initial season instead.

During a conversation with Variety, Ben Stiller and Adam Scott from Severance shared insights on the show’s success and potential changes if different creative choices were made during its early development. They mentioned that originally, Ben Stiller was intended to play a doctor character in Severance season 1, but this plan didn’t materialize. The director expressed satisfaction that he wasn’t part of the main cast in the first season, although they did not elaborate on how the doctor character would have fit into the Severance storyline.

We discussed the idea, and there was a potential plotline we considered, but it didn’t seem suitable. I’m relieved that I won’t be involved, and I couldn’t be happier about not seeing my likeness plastered on advertisements.

What Ben Stiller’s Doctor Role Would’ve Meant For Severance Season 1

How The Severance Director Might Have Fit Into The Story

In the TV show Severance, a few doctor characters have been present across its two seasons. Notably, Robby Benson and Sandra Bernhard portrayed significant ones in season 2, their roles being connected to the intricate experiments on Dichen Lachman’s character, Gemma Scout. Furthermore, Dr. Asal Reghabi, played by Karen Aldridge, has been endeavoring to reconnect Lumon’s divided employees from behind the scenes in a covert manner.

Based on the various characters portrayed, it seems plausible that Stiller’s role in Severance season 1 would have been that of a Lumon doctor. Perhaps he was one of the medical professionals who conducted the severance process, or he could have joined Reghabi in her crusade against the entire conspiracy. It’s also conceivable that Severance season 1 originally intended to explore Mark and Gemma’s fertility struggles, with Stiller’s character being a part of this subplot. However, these elements didn’t materialize in the final product, which is probably for the better.

Our Take On Ben Stiller’s Cut Severance Character

It’s Likely For The Best

As the premiere of Severance approached, Ben Stiller’s involvement in the project was a hot topic. Everyone was eager to see what the talented comedian would contribute when working behind the scenes. However, seeing him on screen, especially in a humorous role, would have made it even more enticing. Nevertheless, the work that Stiller delivered didn’t fall short of expectations. The first season of Severance was excellent, and the second season was almost flawless. Even though I would have loved to see Stiller on screen, if he and showrunner Dan Erickson decided to omit this early part of the story, I have faith in their decision-making abilities.

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2025-05-29 20:07