Why Severance Season 2 Is Taking So Long: Apple Sci-Fi Show’s Delays Explained

The highly anticipated second season of Severance has faced several delays in its production. After becoming one of Apple TV+’s best original series with the release of its exceptional first season in 2022, Severance season 2 quickly became one of the most exciting upcoming projects on television. Starring Adam Scott (Parks and Recreation, Step Brothers), John Turturro (The Big Lebowski, Barton Fink), Christopher Walken (Dune: Part Two, Pulp Fiction), Patricia Arquette (Boyhood, True Romance), and more, Severance went on to win 2 Emmys after receiving 14 total nominations. Severance was created by Dan Erickson, his first-ever television series.

Severance season 1’s ending concluded with a gripping cliffhanger which has made viewers anxious for a second season. Ben Stiller, who is a producer and director on Severance, recently noted that there is no set release date for season 2 as of March 2024 although filming has just recently wrapped in April. Beau Willimon, the acclaimed creator of House of Cards and writer on Andor, has signed on to produce season 2 of Severance after former showrunner Mark Friedman left the project due to behind-the-scenes drama. Despite all the delays and complications, Severance season 2 is poised to become one of the best shows of whichever year it releases.

Severance Season 1 Released In 2022 On Apple TV+

Severance season 1 was originally released in weekly installments starting with its first two episodes, “Good News About Hell” and “Half Loop”, premiering on February 18, 2022. The more than two-year gap between Severance season 1 and season 2 has certainly raised some eyebrows, but the dual Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild strikes of 2023 caused inevitable production delays to virtually all major movies and television series. Severance was released so long ago that it was one of the earliest original television series on Apple TV+, which started producing its own content in late 2019.

Severance season 1 had a total of nine episodes and concluded with its season finale titled “The We We Are” on April 8, 2022. Severance season 1’s finale is by far the most celebrated episode of the nine, earning a remarkable 9.7 rating on IMDb. The second-highest episode by comparison is episode 8 titled “What’s for Dinner?” which earned a rating of 8.9. With Severance season 1 ending on such a high note, it’s no wonder that viewers have become curious about the lengthy delays in production for season 2. The good news is that season 2 filming has officially wrapped, so the wait won’t take much longer than it already has.

Severance Season 2 Was Delayed Due To Hollywood Labor Strikes

Like many other series and movies that were set to film in 2023, Severance season 2 was delayed because of the WGA and SAG strikes that took place throughout most of the spring and summer of 2023. Apple initially announced the renewal of Severance immediately following the release of the season 1 finale back in April 2022, which would likely have landed it an early 2024 release similar to Severance season 1. It’s entirely possible that because of the production delays due to the union strikes as well as the behind-the-scenes complications, Severance season 2 could not be released until 2025. That does not, however, rule out a late 2024 release.

The production delays of Severance season 2 are mostly unavoidable and are not indications that viewers should worry about the quality of the series when it does eventually come back. If anything, Severance season 2 could benefit from the additional preparation time that it had from the delays and appears to be coming back stronger with Willimon’s expert involvement. Based on production photos that confirmed that Severence season 2 had officially wrapped filming, Stiller is also confirmed to be a director once again on the project. There are also several additional cast members joining Severance season 2 including Gwendoline Christie, Alia Shawkat, and Bob Balaban.

How Severance Season 2’s Filming Will Affect The Release Date

While it’s great news that Severance season 2 has finished filming, the post-production process should continue throughout the summer and fall, making a potential late 2024 release date for Severance season 2 possible but tight. It’s certainly not too late for Severance to hit a late December or even November 2024 release window. However, after delays have already pushed the series return back more than two years, there doesn’t feel like much of a need to rush it along. Fans of Severence season 1 will surely appreciate a second season that is more thoughtfully developed, even if it means an early to mid-2025 release.