Severance Season 2 Is Being Shut Down
Severance season 2 has become a casualty of the WGA strike.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike has made headlines for shutting down a number of productions in Los Angeles and across the country including a recent shutdown of Marvel’s Wonder Man. Now, it seems like the strike has cut off production on another high-profile science fiction series. According to Deadline, Severance season 2 has officially been shut down.
Severance season 2 joins shows like Yellowjackets, Stranger Things, Billions, and others. WGA is currently on strike in order to advocate for better, more equitable pay for writers involved in the television and film industries. Many writers claim there has also been stagnation and a lack of career pathways toward higher-level jobs for both entry-level and experienced writers in the field.
This comes amid reports that Severance season 2 was facing behind-the-scenes issues including overbudget scripts and a falling out between co-showrunners Dan Erickson and Mark Friedman. It is starting to become clear that fans will have to wait longer than expected for the resolution of season one’s cliffhanger ending, possibly as late as 2024.
Apple TV+’s Severance is a post-apocalyptic thriller that premiered in 2021, with Severance season 2 initially speculated to be released in late 2023. Created and written by Dan Erickson (who showruns with Mark Friedman) and directed by Ben Stiller, the series also features an ensemble cast that includes Adam Scott, Patricia Arquette, John Turturro, Britt Lower, Jen Tullock, and Zach Cherry.
Prior to Severance’s season 2, season one explored the inner workings of Lumen Industries, a company that offers its employees a unique perk called the “Process.” The “Process” is an experimental means of managing work-life balance that involves severing one’s brain into two parts: one for working and the other for life outside of work.
Adam Scott plays Mark, an employee at Lumen Industries struggling with the recent loss of his wife and son. When a man contacts Mark claiming to be a co-worker who has damning secrets about Lumen Industries, Mark and his coworkers are pulled into a series of events to expose the truth about their job. It is expected that Severance season 2 will explore the aftermath of season one’s cliffhanger episode, although what that looks like is anyone’s guess.
Like season one, Severance season 2 will examine the human and psychological impact of a work culture that prioritizes production over humanity with searing insight. The first season was critically adored and holds an impressive 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.7 out of 10 on IMDb. Some standout qualities of the show include its compelling, suspenseful storyline and top-notch acting from cast members like Adam Scott and Patricia Arquette.
Although Severance season 2 has been hotly anticipated by fans, it is important to note that the WGA strike is fighting to ensure that writers on shows like Severance and others are treated to fair and equitable working conditions. In the long run, it should help shows attain higher quality storytelling, something that should benefit all television watchers and moviegoers.
