Ben Stiller Wanted Barack Obama for a Role in Severance

Ben Stiller, executive producer of Severance, recently shared that he wanted President Barack Obama to voice a character in the Apple TV+ series.

Stiller's aspirations had no limits. In a recent interview, he disclosed that he first contacted Obama before choosing Keanu Reeves to narrate the puppet propaganda video for the show.

"I didn't ask him personally; I knew someone connected to his lawyer," Stiller mentioned to Jimmy Kimmel during a March 3 episode of his late-night talk show. "His lawyer stated that I could send a request via an email."

Stiller composed an email explaining the project. Unfortunately, he didn't receive the response he hoped for.

"Two days later, I got an email back from President Obama," he said. "He mentioned, ‘Hey Ben, big fan of the show, love season one, can’t wait for season two. However, I don’t think I have time to make this happen.’"

Despite this setback, Stiller appreciated that the author of A Promised Land took the time to reply.

He remarked, "It was pretty cool that he responded."

Transitioning to the show’s actual match, Stiller expressed his excitement over Keanu Reeves' performance. He noted that Reeves approached the role with sincerity.

"We reached out to him, and he agreed right away," Stiller explained. "We arranged a full recording session. He was in L.A., I was in New York, and he took multiple takes in the studio."

Stiller praised Reeves’ voice as "the most warm and inviting." Although Reeves wasn't credited in the series, Stiller believed audiences would unconsciously recognize his voice.

"I don’t know if people immediately think it’s Keanu when they see the building and hear his voice," Stiller admitted. "But there’s definitely an innate feeling that comes with it."

Ben wasn't alone in seeking a voice with a warm quality; Dan Erickson, the show’s creator, shared a similar goal.

"We aimed for someone whom people would associate positively with, yet it had to be a friendly presence," he stated in a January interview with Collider. "The Lumon building is portrayed as inviting in this video, and that voice carries a warmth and heart."

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