Inside the wild story of how Barack Obama nearly got a role in Severance

Sometimes in this job, I get to write about crazy things happening. My headlines feel like a fever dream, or like I’m moonlighting at trying to be FakeShowbizNews on Twitter / X. When that site was actually cool and worth being on, mind you. None of those headlines have quite hit like being able to write the news that Severance season two was actually eyeing up casting none other than US President Barack Obama. Not a joke, not embellished – something that actually happened. Here’s how Barack Obama nearly got a part in Severance, and why he didn’t end up making one of the best ever seasons of telly even more legendary.

So Severance season two was supposed to feature Barack Obama – and it’s been confirmed by Ben Stiller himself. Speaking to Jimmy Kimmel in an interview, Stiller revealed he was really pushing to get Barack Obama cast in Severance season two. But as what role? Lumon secret president? New MDR recruit? Cobel’s random lover? Even more wild.

“I didn’t ask him in person, I knew someone who knew his lawyer and his lawyer said I can relay the request if you write an email,” Stiller recalled. “So I wrote an email to him saying like, ‘Hey we have this show,’ whatever. And like two days later, I get an email back from President Barack Obama.”

Was it a straight no? Absolutely not. Basically Barack Obama is a massive fan of Severance, but couldn’t make the schedule fit into his. It’s only a few lines so it’s kind of gutting – he would have been voicing the Lumon building. The one we saw in that very patronising cartoon in the early episode at the start of this season.

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Eventually, Keanu Reeves was cast instead. Which is a big name, admittedly – but no president. Stiller explained the casting choice saying “He’s just like the most warm, inviting voice,” Stiller said. “I don’t know if when you see the building and you hear his voice, you necessarily think immediately that it’s Keanu, but then I think you have this just innate feeling.”

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