Ben Stiller’s Star-Studded Vision: Obama as Narrator for Severance?
In a delightful twist of Hollywood ambition, Ben Stiller recently revealed that he once envisioned former President Barack Obama lending his iconic voice to a character in the Apple TV+ series *Severance*. During an appearance on *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* on March 3, Stiller shared that he initially reached out to Obama through a lawyer acquaintance, hoping to entice the esteemed leader to narrate a puppet propaganda video for the show. Alas, the response wasn’t quite what he hoped for. Obama, while a self-proclaimed fan of *Severance*, expressed his regrets in a polite email, citing a packed schedule that left little room for such a cameo.
Stiller recounted, “Two days later, I get an email back from President Barack Obama. Saying, ‘Hey Ben, big fan of the show, love season one, can’t wait for season two. Don’t think I have time in my schedule to make this happen.’” While the rejection stung, Stiller relished the fact that Obama took the time to respond, calling it “pretty cool.”
However, not one to dwell on disappointment, Stiller pivoted to Keanu Reeves, who ultimately took on the role. Stiller praised Reeves’ commitment to the project, highlighting their full recording session despite the distance between them—Stiller in New York and Reeves in Los Angeles. “He was like, ‘Yeah, okay I’ll do it,’” Stiller recalled, emphasizing Reeves’ warm and inviting voice, which Stiller believes resonates deeply with the audience, even if they don’t immediately recognize it as his.
In a broader context, the choice of a warm voice for the series aligns with the show’s creator Dan Erickson’s vision. He noted in a January interview with *Collider* that they sought a voice that embodied both familiarity and friendliness, which is crucial for the tone of the propaganda video within the series. “The Lumon building is very friendly in the context of this video,” Erickson explained.
Stiller’s quest for a legendary voice highlights the intersection of politics and entertainment, showcasing how even the most ambitious ideas can be met with reality. In a media landscape that thrives on celebrity endorsements and recognizable voices, one can only imagine the potential impact of an Obama-narrated *Severance*.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! Online, Collider, Variety
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