Moviegoers at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery expected only nostalgia at the August 16 Cinespia screening of Zoolander. Instead, they were treated to a lively promotional stunt that blended comedy and drama. Ben Stiller, who directed and starred in the classic 2001 comedy, appeared in character as Derek Zoolander to introduce the film.
But the surprise didn’t end there. Tramell Tillman, who plays Seth Milchick in Apple TV+’s Severance, took the stage alongside the University of Southern California marching band.
From Comedy to Drama with Music
The unexpected crossover was a playful nod to the Severance Season 2 finale, where a marching band plays a pivotal role. Stiller, who also serves as an executive producer on the Apple TV+ series, acknowledged the moment with humor. “This is kind of more like a Zoolander thing than a Severance thing,” he joked before asking for a film-appropriate number. Tillman obliged, cueing the band to perform “Relax” by Powerman 5000—an iconic track featured in Zoolander.
Boosting Severance’s Momentum
The stunt is part of a larger wave of creative marketing for Severance. Earlier promotions included a massive mural in Los Angeles and an immersive pop-up “office” experience at New York’s Grand Central Terminal. Even Hollywood heavyweights like Brad Pitt and Apple CEO Tim Cook joined in, gatecrashing a themed Apple event to promote Apple’s upcoming F1 movie.
The Emmy-nominated series continues to build momentum, securing 27 nominations this year and a confirmed third season. For Apple TV+, the event reinforced the growing cultural presence of Severance and its ability to blur the line between fiction and reality.
A Clever Blend of Worlds
By merging Zoolander’s comedic charm with Severance’s eerie corporate world, Stiller and Tillman gave audiences a night to remember. The event was more than just a movie screening; it was a bold statement about Apple TV+’s push to keep Severance in the spotlight as one of its biggest successes.
