Adam Scott and Ben Stiller Reveal the Insane Truth Behind Severance’s Season 2 Opening Scene

by

Beware, there may be minor spoilers for the second season of ‘Severance’. If you haven’t yet returned to the separated workplace, you can catch up on the show by subscribing to Apple TV+.

As Season 2 of Severance begins, you’re swiftly reintroduced to Lumon, with Mark S. dashing through the corridors. This continuous shot, lasting almost two minutes, gives the impression of a single take, as Adam Scott speedily traverses the offices of his company. In truth, this attention-grabbing scene that launches the series on its 2025 TV lineup required months of filming, and Adam Scott and Ben Stiller shared with me the fascinating tale behind it.

Ben Stiller Breaks Down How They Filmed The Opening Sequence

After catching Season 2’s opening episode, I was eager to discuss that mind-blowing sequence with the Severance cast, particularly Ben Stiller, the show’s director and executive producer, as well as lead actor Adam Scott. During our conversation, I couldn’t help but ask Stiller, known for his work in Night at the Museum, about how they managed to film what appeared to be a single take. To my surprise, he clarified that it actually took a significant amount of time and effort to produce this scene, and it was broken down into multiple sections.

The filming took place in multiple locations, approximately ten distinct segments, with each segment requiring a unique setup and equipment. The shooting spanned around five to six months, as various parts of the set became ready at different times.

Read More About Severance’s Season 2 Premiere

Following the debut of Severance’s Season 2, I Can’t Help But Discuss at Length the Bizarre ‘Microdat Rebellion’ Video from Lumon

Or:

After Seeing Severance’s Second Season Opener, I Find Myself Constantly Bringing Up Lumon’s Crazy ‘Microdat Revolt’ Video

Or:

The Premiere of Severance’s Second Season Has Me Rambling Nonstop About the Strange ‘Microdat Insurrection’ Video from Lumon

These options maintain the original sentiment while providing a more natural and easy-to-read rephrasing.

It’s surprising to learn that this flawlessly blended scene took five to six months to film, given its appearance of seamlessness. Yet, upon reflection, it fits perfectly. Mark is shown running across a large portion of the set, and each of these spaces was utilized for distinct scenes throughout Season 2. Consequently, it’s not surprising that they filmed each section of this opening sequence as the different parts of the office were being built.

Stiller explained to me the reason behind their decision to begin the season with such an elaborate running scene. Given Mark’s experiences at the end of “Severance” Season 1 and his return afterwards, it seemed logical that he would be anxious and full of energy while trying to understand the situation.

Essentially, our conversation about the start of the season sparked the concept: Mark would be driven to investigate and understand the situation following the recent news he’d received.

In terms of the nitty-gritty details, the actor from “Meet the Parents” shared that they employed a robotic arm known as a “bolt arm” to capture Scott running while the camera moved around. Stiller himself admitted that this method was quite perilous and time-consuming, adding that it also instilled a bit of fear.

However, it all paid off in the end, as the director explained:

Collaboration among our department heads turned out to be an engaging team-building exercise, akin to solving an intricate puzzle. This task, which took considerable effort and time to complete, was so rewarding that upon its completion, we celebrated with a wrap party, marking the successful finish of the shot.

What a fantastic shot that calls for a celebration! Considering all the time invested, the intricate details, and Scott’s outstanding performance, it sets the stage for a remarkable and awe-inspiring beginning of Season 2.

By the way, I was curious about the leading actor from the show “Severance”, and he shared with me his experience during that thrilling chase scene on set.

Adam Scott Told Me What It Was Like Starring In Severance’s Opening Scene

In the realm of filmmaking, I, a movie enthusiast, found myself engrossed in a scene where Ben Stiller was pondering over the technical intricacies. Meanwhile, Adam Scott seemed to be preoccupied with something entirely different – running, and more running, as if he had an endless marathon ahead. The director mentioned that this particular sequence took several months to capture, and they managed to grab it bit by bit while filming the remainder of Season 2.

Speaking about his experience performing this scene, the Mark character playfully mentioned the large amounts of Gatorade he needed to consume and how he prepared himself for the challenging running scenes.

As a devoted cinephile, I found myself immersed in a production that seemed never-ending. Every time I thought the opening chase scene had concluded, there would be another twist, such as a question about favorite Gatorade colors. Each time this happened, I’d groan internally, thinking, “Oh my goodness, is there more running ahead?” Indeed, it felt like the director was saying, “Just wait, there’s more to come!

The actor from “Party Down” shared with me that he felt “drained” after wrapping up filming, yet found it incredibly enjoyable. Not only that, but it turned out to be a highly profitable venture as well. The fact that so much energy, sweat (as Scott put it), Gatorade and bananas were invested in creating this particular scene makes the anticipation for “Severance” Season 2 understandable and sets an extremely high standard for what’s to come in the rest of the season.

To witness this awe-inspiring spectacle, you can tune into “Severance” on Apple TV+ each week. Don’t forget to return every Friday to catch up on Mark’s latest adventures and watch as the series unfolds further, leaving us all in a state of amazement during Season 2.

Read More

2025-01-18 16:07