Ben Stiller’s return to acting after his seven-year break was exciting, but his work behind the scenes on a sci-fi TV show with 96% on Rotten Tomatoes -Severance- is arguably even more thrilling. When it was revealed that Stiller would be developing a TV show for AppleTV+, many assumed it would be as one of the leads inSeverance’s cast of characters. This would have marked a return to lead acting for Stiller for the first time in many years, butSeveranceseason 1saw Stiller absent from the cameras and spotlights.
Stiller’s role inSeveranceis different, meaning his return to acting was pushed back by a few years. In 2024, though, the iconic actor returned to the screen with the Christmas comedy-dramaNutcrackers.Stiller’s last lead performance beforeNutcrackerscame in seven years prior in 2017 withThe Meyerowitz Stories.Although Stiller’s on-camera return was very welcome, his work on the aforementionedbinge-worthy sci-fi TV showcontinues to be even more exciting going into 2025.
It Shows A Different Side To Stiller’s Talents
As alluded to, Stiller’s work onSeveranceis nothing short of remarkably impressive. The primary reason is that it allows Stiller to showcase a different skill set than he is often associated with. Stiller is known for his comedic talents on camera, with his earlier directorial efforts being similar. Movies likeZoolanderandTropic Thunderwere comedic above all else, placing Stiller among the many iconic comedic filmmakers of the 1990s and 2000s. Since his acting hiatus, however, Stiller has branched out regarding his career, withSeverancearguably the shining example of this.
Stiller’s direction and production ofSeveranceallows him to exhibit the darkly comedic, dramatic elements the show offers. The series' funny moments are prevalent, butit is in how effectivelySeverance's almost disturbing subject matter is conveyed that Stiller’s directorial talents are highlighted. Returning to acting withNutcrackerswas exciting, but his work onSeveranceoffers another facet to his career entirely. Moreover, Stiller’s acting hiatus allowed him to work behind the scenes on other thriller shows likeEscape at DannemoraandIn The Dark.
Stiller Has His Reasons
Where acting is concerned, the burning question is why Stiller stepped back from on-camera work.Nutcrackerspremiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, during which Stiller outlined his reasoning for being much more selective with his acting roles. PerEntertainment Weekly, Stiller stated that his choice was entirely to do with the scripts and projects he was privy to.
Rather than choosing to star in most things he was presented with, Stiller chose to act only in projects that provided a strong emotional hook:
“I’ve been working on projects as a director and producer for a while, and wanting to act, but I kind of made the choice a few years ago that I was only going to do something if it really hit me.”
In the same interview at TIFF 2024, Stiller stated thatNutcrackersgave him this feeling. He insists that he cannot truly explain it, but that reading the script for the film simply gave him the urge needed to act in the lead role.
What makes these comments more interesting is the explanation they provide for Stiller’s work as a director and producer on shows likeSeverance.Severancehas an unfolding mystery at its center with a strong emotional focus on its lead characters. With Stiller only wanting to act in emotionally resonant projects, it stands to reason he only wants to direct or produce similar shows too.
Ben Stiller Has Already Technically Made An Acting Cameo On Severance
The Filmmaker Snuck In An Appearance In Season 1
An interesting fact aboutSeverancethat many would be forgiven for not knowing is that Stiller actually made a small acting cameo in the show. This came in thestory ofSeveranceseason 1, specifically episode 8 of the show. In this episode, Helly R - the character played by Britt Lower - completes her work quota for the company Lumon, prompting an animated video message to appear that depicts the company’s founder, Kier Eagan, congratulating her.
Severance’s Eagan Family Tree Explained
The Eagans play a huge role in Severance, and their family tree is briefly explained during the crew’s visit to the Perpetuity Wing in season one.
The animated sprite of Kier thanks Helly, telling her she has done a great service to the company and even insisting that he loves her.Many will not realize that Stiller himself provides the voice for Kier Eaganin this scene, allowing him to have a subtle acting cameo inSeveranceseason 1. AsSeveranceseason 2’s story begins unfolding in 2025, it will be interesting to see if Stiller has any other cameos as Kier or if this was simply a one-off moment. Regardless, Stiller’s continued work behind the camera is what rendersSeverance’s future so exciting.
Cast
Severance is a psychological thriller series featuring Adam Scott as Mark Scout, an employee at Lumon Industries who undergoes a “severance” procedure to separate his work and personal memories. However, as work and life personas mysteriously begin to collide, it quickly becomes clear that not all is as it seems. Created by Dan Erickson and directed by Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle.
