Ben Stiller attempted to cast Barack Obama in the second season of Severance.

      Ben Stiller on Severance Theories, Attempting to Cast Obama & Presenting at the Oscars During a Knicks Game

      Former President Barack Obama nearly joined Lumon Industries. On Monday's episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, Severance executive producer Ben Stiller shared that he had reached out to Obama to make a guest appearance in an episode of the acclaimed Apple TV+ series. Stiller wanted Obama to voice the animated building featured in the "Lumon is Listening" video from season 2, episode 1. The part ultimately went to Keanu Reeves, but Stiller mentioned that Obama was offered the role first. "There was one person that I asked before [Keanu Reeves], and he said no: President Barack Obama," Stiller remarked.

      Stiller, who is the main director of Severance, explained how he contacted Obama through email. "I didn’t ask him in person. I knew someone who knew his lawyer, and his lawyer said I could send the request over if I wrote an email," Stiller told host Jimmy Kimmel. "So I sent an email saying something like, 'Hey, we have this show,' and after a couple of days, I received an email back from President Barack Obama saying, 'Hey Ben. Big fan of the show. Loved season 1. Can’t wait for season 2. Don’t think I can fit this into my schedule.'"

      Stiller humorously questioned, “What could possibly be more important than voicing an animated building in Severance?” Nevertheless, he expressed that it was “pretty cool” to have received a response from Obama. Severance is currently in its second season, which has garnered widespread acclaim. The latest episode, Chikhai Bardo, received accolades for Jessica Lee Gagné’s direction and Dichen Lachman’s performance. The eighth episode of Severance season 2 will air on March 7, 2025, on Apple TV+.

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      Gugu Mbatha-Raw Searches for the Truth in Surface Season 2 Trailer

      In the trailer for Surface season 2, Gugu Mbatha-Raw's character, Sophie, sets out on a journey for answers. In season 1, Sophie survives an alleged suicide attempt with fragmented memories of her past. By the end of the first season, Sophie embraces her former identity as Tess Caldwell and resolves to return to the U.K. to locate Eliza (Millie Brady), a woman connected to her past.

      The Sandman Canceled at Netflix, Ending with Season 2

      Netflix is concluding The Sandman series. On Friday, the streaming service announced that the show would wrap up with its forthcoming second season, with no third season planned. Showrunner Allan Heinberg expressed his appreciation to Netflix for giving his team the opportunity to adapt the cherished comic book series for television.

      Netflix 2025 TV Slate Includes New Seasons of Squid Game, Stranger Things, and Wednesday

      Netflix’s TV lineup for 2025 features new seasons of Squid Game, Stranger Things, and Wednesday. Bela Bajaria, Netflix's Chief Content Officer, stated at the "Next on Netflix" presentation, "No matter what you’re anticipating this year, there’s no way to be fully prepared for what’s coming next on Netflix." Season 3 of Squid Game will premiere on June 27 and will serve as the third and final season of the popular South Korean drama series. Season 3 will begin following the shocking events of the season 2 finale, culminating in a violent confrontation between Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) and the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun).

      After a three-year break, Squid Game season 2 debuted on Netflix on December 26, 2024, quickly becoming the platform's second-most-watched non-English series, just behind Squid Game season 1.

      Stranger Things season 5 has recently completed production after a year-long filming process. The Duffer Brothers, present at the Netflix event, commented, "This is our biggest and most ambitious season yet. At the same time, we believe it's our most personal story. The filming process was incredibly intense and emotional — for us and for our actors."