Ben Stiller explains why Barack Obama turned down a 'Severance' Season 2 cameo

"It was pretty cool that he responded."
 By 
Sam Haysom
 on 
A man in a suit sits on a talk show sofa, smiling. The caption at the bottom reads "He said no."
Watch Next

The voice of Lumon in the Severance Season 2 training video belongs to Keanu Reeves — but as Ben Stiller explains in the Jimmy Kimmel Live! interview above, former president Barack Obama was asked first — and he said no.

"I didn't ask him in person. I knew someone that knew his lawyer, and his lawyer said 'I can relay the request if you write an email,' so I wrote an email to him," says Stiller in the clip above. "Like two days later I get an email back from president Barack Obama saying, 'Hey Ben, big fan of the show, love Season 1, can't wait for Season 2...don't think I have time in my schedule to make this happen.' And like, come on, what's more important than doing the voiceover for the animated building in Severance? But it was pretty cool that he responded."

It would have been a glorious cameo, but at least Reeves makes an undeniably excellent backup.

Topics Severance

Mashable Image
Sam Haysom

Sam Haysom is the Deputy UK Editor for Mashable. He covers entertainment and online culture, and writes horror fiction in his spare time.


Latest Videos

Stephen Colbert reacts to the Artemis II moon mission
A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage, gesturing.


'The Daily Show' reacts to judge halting Trump's White House ballroom
Desi Lydic presents "The Daily Show" beside an image of Donald Trump.


A24's 'Mother Mary' trailer is worth it for the FKA twigs track
Anne Hathway is dressed in a red pop star outfit with religious overtones in a film still from "Mother Mary."

Jon Stewart has a brutal reaction to Trump waffling about pens
A man in a suit sitting behind a talk show desk looks angry. In the top left is an image of the president holding up a pen.

Stephen Colbert gleefully recaps the best signs at the 'No Kings' protest
A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage, smiling. The caption at the bottom reads, "I like that one."

Riz Ahmed is troublingly intense in new 'SNL UK' promo
A close-up of a man grinning in a slightly creepy way.


The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!