Apple Studios now oversees production of future seasons of the popular series Severance. The company secured the show’s intellectual property and full rights from Fifth Season through a $70 million deal finalized in December.
Deal Structure and Production Shift
Fifth Season retains its role as executive producer, but Apple Studios leads all aspects of the series moving forward. Severance joins Apple’s flagship lineup, including titles like Owen Wilson’s Stick and Kristen Wiig’s Palm Royale. This follows Apple’s earlier acquisition of the sci-fi series Silo after its debut season.
Financial Pressures and Strategic Move
Escalating production costs strained Fifth Season’s resources, prompting prior requests for advances from Apple. The studio explored relocating filming from New York to Canada for tax incentives and relied on Apple for budget support and advertiser outreach.
Season 2 of Severance emerged as Apple’s most-viewed series, solidifying its value. With ample resources, Apple assumed complete control to maintain New York production without financial hurdles.
Future Plans
The series targets four seasons total. Showrunner Dan Erickson and director Ben Stiller express openness to potential spinoffs.
