Ben Stiller’s First Call Left Adam Scott Convinced Severance Wasn’t His
When Adam Scott first heard about Severance, he was convinced the role was dead on arrival.
If you feel like Adam Scott has been showing up everywhere lately, you’re not wrong. The guy’s been on a roll—especially with TV. Sure, he’s become a familiar face for comedy fans ever since he stepped into the shoes of Ben Wyatt on Parks and Recreation (and honestly, does anyone not love 'The Cones of Dunshire'?), but things really kicked into high gear for him after that.
After his Parks & Rec days wrapped, Scott had a quick run on Apple TV’s Loot (just nine episodes, but he made them count), and even got to be a winking, alternate-universe Adam Scott on the (very self-aware) Apple TV hit The Studio. But seriously, all of that is warm-up compared to what came next: Severance. If you haven’t seen this show, or even just the trailers, I’m betting you’ve at least heard someone rant about it and wondered, ‘What’s this creepy office show?’
Severance: The Role Adam Scott Never Thought He’d Get
Severance landed on Apple TV in 2022, with Scott leading as Mark Scout—a Lumon Industries employee who basically splits his mind in two: one persona for work, one for 'real life.' (If you think your work-life balance is a mess, imagine literally not remembering either half.) Mark’s journey kicks off when he gets bumped up to run the Macrodata Refinement team, meaning he manages a crew of folks who also have absolutely no clue about anything outside the office. It’s dark, high-concept, and honestly kind of addictive.
But here’s the fun part. Turns out, Scott himself never thought he’d be in this show at all. Apparently Ben Stiller (yeah, that Ben Stiller—he’s exec producing and sometimes directing) pitched him on the idea way back in 2017. Scott later admitted, during a chat with Kid Cudi on the Big Bro with Kid Cudi podcast, that he figured he’d never land the part, calling it 'too good' to be true:
'I’ll never actually get this role. This is too good. Like, there’s no way I’ll actually get to do this.'
Well, sometimes the universe has a sense of humor because now it’s hard to imagine anyone else as Mark. Scott’s performance has turned Severance into one of Apple TV’s breakout hits. It’s lingered in the service’s Top 10 practically since it aired, pulling in critics and viewers alike, not to mention landing Scott Outstanding Lead Actor nominations two seasons in a row. So, yeah, I'd say it's a defining chapter for him—and then some.
What’s Next for Scott and the Show?
- Season 3’s coming—but not anytime soon. The plan is to shoot in 2026. If all goes right, you’ll probably see new episodes in 2027 (so, patience).
- Plot details are wrapped up tighter than Lumon’s HR files. But Scott’s apparently read the scripts and swears there are surprises ahead—so expect the unexpected (again).
- You can binge (or re-binge) right now. Both seasons are up for streaming on Apple TV. No memory implant required.
Bottom line: Adam Scott is right in the middle of a wild career peak, thanks in huge part to a show that he nearly talked himself out of auditioning for. Good thing he stuck with it, because if Severance is any indication, he’ll be on our screens—and awards shortlists—for a while yet.