An animated Lumon Industries voiced by Keanu Reeves
In a new appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Ben Stiller tells the story of how he tried to get former President Barack Obama to do voice work on the season two premiere of “Severance.” But, let me be clear — he didn’t take Stiller up on the offer.
In the season two premiere, a short animated section features a talking Lumon Industries building. While he went uncredited, Stiller confirms that the voice belonged to Keanu Reeves.
However, that wasn’t the first person he had in mind for the role.
“There was a very short list of people, there was one person that I asked before him.” When asked who it was, Stiller responds, “President Barack Obama,” eliciting a laugh from the audience.
Stiller had contacted Obama’s lawyer, who promised to relay the request to the former president. According to Stiller, he had his answer two days later.
“I get an email back from President Barack Obama saying, ‘Hey Ben, big fan of the show. Love season one, can’t wait for season two. Don’t think I have time in my schedule to make this happen.'”
“I was like, ‘C’mon, what’s more important than doing the voice for the animated building in ‘Severance,”” Stiller jokes.
“Severance” season two premiered on January 17. The show has become Apple’s most-watched series, dethroning former Apple TV+ darling “Ted Lasso.”
Unsurprisingly, Apple has done a lot to promote its most popular series. There was a star-studded pop up in New York, and it even released the series’ Roku for a limited time.
Even Tim Cook was severed in a promotional skit for Season 2.
