Dan Erickson, the creator of Apple TV+’s psychological thriller Severance, has shared the simple and very relatable moment that sparked the entire series. It was not a grand vision but a personal wish born from a job he disliked. While walking into work one day, Erickson found himself thinking he would prefer to skip ahead and miss the entire eight-hour workday. That fleeting thought about disconnecting from the misery of a boring job became the foundation for one of television’s most discussed shows.
The Personal Wish That Started It All
Erickson has been open about the origins of his idea. He was working in a temporary office job, cataloging parts for a door factory, when the concept struck him. He described catching himself in a fantasy that many people have likely experienced.
“I was literally walking into work one day at a job I really hated and caught myself thinking, ‘What if there was some way to just disassociate, and for my body to do whatever it needs to do over the next eight hours to earn this paycheck – to not have to consciously experience it?’”
He quickly realized how unusual that wish was, noting, “once I sort of unpacked that, I was like, ‘Oh, that’s a messed up wish to make.’” . This personal moment of wanting to escape a mundane work life led him to imagine a world where such a split was actually possible. He understood immediately that this idea had the makings of a compelling story.
From a Writing Sample to a Ben Stiller Project
Severance did not start as a planned television series. Initially, Erickson wrote the pilot script as a writing sample. His goal was to use it to get a job in another show’s writers’ room. The script found its way onto a popular list for horror and sci-fi screenplays, which is how it eventually landed on the desk of actor and director Ben Stiller.
Stiller’s production company, Red Hour, saw potential in the unconventional story. Erickson recalls the somewhat intense first meeting with Stiller, describing him waiting silently in a room as Erickson came down a spiral staircase. Despite the nerves, their collaboration was crucial. Stiller helped ground Erickson’s original, more fantastical vision, shaping it into the uniquely strange yet human-focused show it became. Stiller also became a key protector of the show’s distinctive tone, insisting it should not become a typical TV series.
Building the Two Worlds of Lumon Industries
A central challenge in creating Severance was building the two distinct worlds: the sterile, confined office of the “Innies” and the outside world of the “Outies.” Erickson found writing for the severed floor easier because it was a controlled, insular environment. The bigger creative task was making the outside world feel equally engaging and part of the same unsettling universe.
The goal was to create a feeling that the influence of Lumon Industries, the show’s mysterious corporation, was everywhere. “You’re never really outside of Lumon,” Erickson explained. “You can be outside of the building, but their tentacles are still everywhere.” . This idea extends to the show’s design, where companies in the outside world share names with the historic CEOs of Lumon, creating a subtle, creeping sense of corporate control.
The show’s now-iconic retro-futuristic office design was a collaborative effort. The production team, including designer Jeremy Hindle, worked to create a space that felt disorienting and untethered from time. Practical story logic also guided the design; the severed floor uses older technology to prevent digital communication with the outside world.
How the Cast Brought the Story to Life
The actors have been pivotal in realizing Erickson’s vision. He notes that writing for the second season was a different experience because he could now hear the actors’ specific voices and rhythms in his head. The casting process also led to meaningful collaborations, such as the relationship between characters Irving and Burt. Actor John Turturro specifically requested his longtime friend Christopher Walken for the role of Burt, wanting their real-life bond to translate on screen.
Britt Lower, who plays the rebellious new hire Helly R, landed her role with a passionate self-taped audition. She performed the intense scene where Helly wakes up on the Lumon conference table in her own bathroom, reportedly leaving kick marks on the door from her performance.
For a show about split identities, the technical process of filming was unique. The actors often filmed scenes for their “Innie” and “Outie” personas back-to-back, sometimes shooting elevator transition scenes for multiple episodes in one session to perfect the subtle shifts in their performances.
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Connecting with a Global Audience
While Severance is a high-concept sci-fi thriller, its core premise resonates because it stems from a universal feeling. Erickson tapped into the common desire to separate from the parts of life that feel like a grind. The show has been praised for exploring themes of identity, corporate control, and what people sacrifice for balance.
Interestingly, the earliest roots of Severance can be traced back to Erickson’s university days. While a student at Western Washington University, he wrote and directed a play called Convention for a student theater group. That play featured four men in a doorless office who cannot remember the outside world, containing what Erickson calls the “early DNA” of the TV series.
Severance Season 1 and Season 2 are available to stream globally on Apple TV+.
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