Ben Stiller Reveals He Emailed Barack Obama to Voice a Role in ‘Severance’ – Here’s Why Obama Said No

Ben Stiller, executive producer and director of the hit series Severance, recently shared a surprising behind-the-scenes story on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. Stiller revealed that he initially contacted former President Obama to voice a puppet propaganda video featured in Season 2. The video, which plays a key role in the show’s eerie narrative, was ultimately narrated by Keanu Reeves—but not before Stiller emailed Obama. “Two days later, I get an email back from President Barack Obama,” Stiller said, joking, “What’s more important than doing the voice-over for the animated building in Severance?” Obama, a self-proclaimed “big fan” of the show, politely declined due to his packed schedule. Stiller described the response as “pretty cool,” even if it meant moving on to Plan B.

Enter Keanu Reeves, who took the uncredited role seriously, recording multiple takes of the voice-over in Los Angeles. Fans quickly recognized Reeves’ signature “warm, inviting voice,” which perfectly matched the tone of the Lumon Industries propaganda. The role, as explained by Severance creator Dan Erickson, required a voice that felt both familiar and comforting—a contrast to the show’s unsettling themes. “We always wanted it to be somebody that people have certain associations with, but also, it had to be a very warm presence,” Erickson told Collider. While Obama’s cameo didn’t pan out, Reeves’ contribution added another layer of intrigue to the critically acclaimed series.
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