Ben Stiller Went to Bat to Get 'Comedic' Adam Scott Cast in Severance: 'No One's Ever Stuck Their Neck Out For Me Like That'

Mar. 15, 2025

(L) Ben Stiller and Adam Scott.Photo:Michael Kovac/Getty

Michael Kovac/Getty

Ben Stillerstuck up forAdam Scottin a way he’s never known.

(L) Ben Stiller and Adam Scott on ‘TODAY’.Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

Stiller, on the other hand, told the outlet that Scott’s comedic background was an added bonus.

“So much of the show is based inThe OfficeandParks and RecandOffice Space, and that genre,” he explained. “The humor in the script that Dan wrote was in that world but had this other layer to it. Casting was about figuring out who could handle that.”

This isn’t the first time the duo have worked together on a project. In 2013, Stiller and Scott co-starred inThe Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

“It was so fun and I loved working with Ben,” Scott told PEOPLE of the comedy. “So when [Severance] came up years later, I jumped at the chance to work with him again.”

Stiller agreed, “I don’t think I ever imagined that we’d be doing a television series together, but I love working with Adam.”

He added that it’s been “so much more fun” working with Scott on the workplace thriller than it was onMitty.

“It’s gone on longer and we’ve been able to really get to know each other and work together as producers,” he continued. “It’s really been great.”

Severancefollows a group of employees at Lumon Industries who have undergone a “severance” procedure, which separates their work personas (or “innies”) from their real-life identities (or “outies”).

In addition to Scott, the series starsBritt Lower,Zack Cherry,John Turturro,Trammell Tillman,Patricia ArquetteandChristoper Walken.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

source: people.com