Severance Creator Dan Erickson Hints at ‘Surprise’ Twists for Season 3 (Exclusive)
The mastermind behind Severance is hinting at what should be expected in the upcoming third season of the acclaimed Apple TV series.
“When we penned the conclusion of season 2, I had this gut feeling that viewers would be blown away. They might get frustrated and shout at their screens, but excitement would also be palpable. A few other pivotal moments in season 2 gave me that same sense. In fact, I’ve experienced that sensation even more while writing season 3 than in any earlier season,” Dan Erickson shared exclusively with Us Weekly during the 2026 Critics Choice Awards on Sunday, January 4, in Santa Monica, California.
He suggested that fans of Severance may encounter intense reactions to some significant developments in the new episodes.
“I believe there are going to be countless moments that astonish and provoke viewers, blending the weird and the humorous, capturing all the elements that we hope audiences continue to cherish about the show,” Erickson, 41, elaborated.
The science-fiction psychological thriller premiered on the platform in 2022, following a team of employees at Lumon Industries who undergo a procedure to segregate their work memories from their personal lives. Their work identities are referred to as “innies,” whereas their home selves are known as “outies.”
The stellar cast features Adam Scott (Mark), Britt Lower (Helly), Patricia Arquette (Harmony), Tramell Tillman (Milchick), Dichen Lachman (Gemma), Zach Cherry (Dylan), Christopher Walken (Burt), among others.
Erickson also indicated that while Scott, 52, was the centerpiece in previous seasons, season 3 will further develop the narrative to include all employees at Lumon Industries.
“Season 2 took strides in this direction by showcasing the outie lives of more characters. We’ll certainly continue down that road, yet ultimately, we are telling the stories of this group of individuals, this work family, and how they are the only ones who can help each other endure in this corporate nightmare,” he explained to Us. “We aim to further enrich that narrative.”
Severance garnered 4 nominations at the Critics Choice Awards, but ultimately, Tillman, 40, was the sole winner, taking home the accolade for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
Scott received a nomination for Best Actor in a Drama Series, with the award going to The Pitt star Noah Wyle, and Lower competed for Best Actress in a Drama Series against Rhea Seehorn, who won for her role as Carol Sturka in Pluribus.
Severance was also nominated for Best Drama Series but was outshone by The Pitt.
Details regarding season 3 of Erickson’s Severance remain scarce, but the season 2 finale concluded with a cliffhanger concerning the love triangle involving Mark, his innie love interest Helly, and his wife Gemma.
In the finale, Gemma managed to escape Lumon Industries without Mark, who chose to stay on the severed floor alongside Helly.
The anticipated follow-up season is rumored to be set for release in 2027, according to various reports.
Ben Stiller, who serves as an executive producer and director of the series, provided an update during a November 2025 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
He teased that the third season will debut “soon-ish,” adding, “It’s a challenge because fans are eager for new content, constantly asking, ‘When’s the next season?’ and we’re always saying, ‘We’re on it.’ We’ve produced only 19 episodes over five and a half years.”
The first two seasons of Severance are currently available for streaming on Apple TV.
