As Apple Acquires SEVERANCE the Studio Looks Ahead to Its Probable 4-Season Run and Possible Spin-Off Potential

Severance has always been a show that streamed on Apple TV+, but the first two seasons of the series were produced by the company Fifth Season.

After a deal was struck this week, Apple became the show’s new owner, and all decisions regarding the show’s production will be made in-house. In a recent report from Deadline detailing the deal, which was largely made due to financial reasons, the show’s future was also addressed.

Since the show’s beginnings, creator and co-writer Dan Erickson, who works closely with director/producer Ben Stiller, envisioned that the series would be about a four season arc to tell the story Erickson had in mind. But could we see more outside of a fourth season?

The decision will be Stiller and Erickson’s, and according to Deadline’s sources, at the moment, they don’t see beyond that season 4. Whether that changes or not, the duo are open to the idea of doing more with the Severance universe; possibilities include a prequel, spinoffs and foreign versions.

It is both a creative and a business proposition. Facing three-year gaps between Severance seasons, there could be a way to keep the show’s fandom engaged by releasing a smaller-scale offshoot in-between that also would increase the franchise’s value. Van Amburg and Erlicht took a similar approach at Sony with prequel Better Call Saul following Breaking Bad.

At the moment, the focus is on Season 3, which Apple hopes to start shooting in the summer. Seasons 1 & 2 of Severance are available to stream on Apple TV+ now.