Apple TV+ once relied on critical darlings to stand out, yet few shows crossed into everyday talk. Now Severance—the workplace sci-fi drama about “innies” and “outies”—is doing just that. Catch-phrases echo in offices, pop-up sets fill Grand Central Station, and the series has overtaken Ted Lasso as the service’s most-watched title.
Spinoffs on the drawing board
Executive producer Ben Stiller has revealed that he holds “two potential spinoff concepts” set in the show’s eerie universe. He stopped short of naming characters or timelines, but the mere idea pushes Apple into the franchise league normally ruled by Disney and HBO. Stiller and star Adam Scott also want a Severance video game, which would invite fans to explore Lumon Industries from behind a controller.
Merchandise and momentum
Beyond scripts, branded keyboards and other tie-ins are already in the works, giving Apple a fresh revenue stream while season three remains in production. That pipeline matters because viewers have waited almost three years amid reported showrunner turmoil. Yet hype continues to build, proving the story’s grip on audiences and, by extension, its value to Apple’s billion-dollar streaming bet.
Bigger stakes for Apple TV+
So far, Apple TV+ has earned awards but still trails older rivals in cultural sway. A successful Severance universe could change that. With manufacturing delays easing and season three expected next year, the timing looks ideal. If the spinoffs land, Apple will finally link its prestige programming to the kind of merchandising and expanded storytelling that keep fans—and investors—coming back.
