During the much-anticipated premiere of Season 2 of “Severance,” Adam Scott found himself immersed in the serene landscapes of the Irish countryside, filming an independent horror film. However, upon his return to the United States, he quickly realized that the atmosphere surrounding him had transformed dramatically. The buzz surrounding the show had escalated, making it one of the most talked-about series on television.

“Walking down the street feels completely different now,” remarks Scott, who portrays the dual-personality character Mark Scout in the hit Apple TV+ series. “Every ten steps, someone approaches me to discuss the show. From cars, people are shouting my name, and even in a bakery, I spotted a cookie featuring my face!”

Seated at a bustling Italian restaurant’s patio, we sip on rich double espressos alongside Ben Stiller, as the afternoon sun casts its warmth on tenth Avenue. It’s hard to ignore the fact that every few moments, a passerby nearly twists their neck to catch a glimpse of the two stars, showcasing just how popular they have become.

Reflecting on his journey, Scott shares, “The level of recognition I’ve experienced over the years has been a gradual ascent, so I’ve always been accustomed to occasional encounters with fans.” He rose to fame as Amy Poehler’s romantic interest on “Parks and Recreation,” starred in the cult classic “Get Together Down,” and delivered memorable performances in “Big Little Lies” and “Step Brothers.” With a relaxed demeanor, he casually crosses one leg over the other and adds, “But this level of attention is entirely new to me.”

Now, just a month after the mind-blowing finale of Season 2, both the star and the visionary director of “Severance” find themselves engaged in what seems to be the final leg of their extensive six-month international press tour. What initially felt like a promotional campaign has transformed into a celebratory victory lap. When I last interviewed Scott and Stiller back in December, their focus was on enticing viewers from Season 1 to tune in for the new season. Now, the series has evolved beyond their wildest dreams, morphing from a niche sci-fi hit into a cultural phenomenon. Terms like “innie” and “outie” have seamlessly integrated into everyday workplace jargon, while the show’s characters and their iconic cubicles took over Grand Central Station and the internet for two full days. The popularity of the theme song reached new heights, with performances at major events like Coachella, captivating an audience of around 50,000 people.

“For me, the ultimate moment was when the organ player at Madison Square Garden played the theme during a New York Knicks game,” Stiller recalls with excitement. “It felt like I had ascended to heaven.”

Stiller first encountered the script for the pilot episode of “Severance” nearly a decade ago. Crafted by Hollywood outsider Dan Erickson, the narrative centers on the grief-stricken Mark Scout, who undergoes a procedure that completely “severs” his home life from his work life, giving rise to two separate consciousnesses, each confined to their respective environments. As Mark and his colleagues at Lumon Industries begin to uncover the underlying issues within the seemingly flawless biotech firm, unsettling revelations come to light. “It reminded me of the numerous workplace comedies I adored, yet it also had an eerie and surreal quality,” Stiller explains.

What sets this project apart is its originality, compelling Stiller to bring the world of Lumon to life. Remarkably, both he and Erickson had independently considered Scott for the lead role. Thus, in 2017, Stiller reached out to him. The call occurred just days after Donald Trump’s first presidential inauguration, while Scott was at Sundance, amidst a winter wonderland of snow, when he received the unexpected news.

“Ben gave me a quick overview—essentially an elevator pitch,” Scott recalls. “It lingered in my mind; I couldn’t stop thinking about it for a year and a half before I finally read the full script.”

The initial challenge was pitching the show. “No one was interested except for Apple, which was still in its infancy as a streaming service,” Stiller recalls. “It felt surreal, like, ‘Oh great, the computer company!’” Now, he confidently asserts that Apple is “the best platform” for “Severance,” not solely due to the meta-commentary of it being a huge global tech firm. “We’re fortunate we didn’t end up on a network like Showtime,” he adds.

Despite being new to television, Erickson had a robust vision for the series. Meanwhile, Stiller meticulously crafted its visual aesthetics, compiling a comprehensive architectural and cinematic reference guide spanning several hundred pages. While Lumon was initially envisioned as a “mundane ’90s office space,” Stiller infused it with a cold, retro-futuristic vibe reminiscent of the 1980s.

As the cast became involved, the characters began to develop significantly. In the original scripts, Mark’s innie exhibited a charming snarkiness during his workday, a trait that Stiller recognized as characteristic of Scott. However, once Scott began to embody the role, he realized it was essential for the character to initially portray a strong allegiance to the company.

“In the beginning, there was a subtle hint of skepticism regarding Lumon from Innie Mark. We made a conscious decision to depict him as more of a company man at the start, allowing Helly, played by Britt Lower, to serve as the source of that skepticism,” Scott explains.

Early in Season 1, Stiller even contemplated stepping in front of the camera himself. He considered portraying a doctor, but ultimately, that character was completely eliminated (and should not be confused with roles played by Robby Benson and Sandra Bernhard in Season 2). “We discussed it, and while there was a storyline we found intriguing, it just didn’t feel right,” Stiller reflects. “I’m grateful I’m not in it. I’m quite content not having my face on the billboard.”

The writers’ room for Season 3 of “Severance” is currently active in Los Angeles, with Stiller making regular trips to the West Coast every ten days, while Scott often drops in to contribute. Both serve as executive producers on the show. However, despite their active involvement in “Severance,” neither of them truly knows how to articulate the details about it.

<p class="paragraph larva // lrv-u-margin-lr-auto lrv-a-font-body-m “People seem genuinely interested in the creative process,” Stiller notes. “However, it’s challenging to provide answers to those inquiries.”

While filming Season 1, Scott took the initiative to create a poster board featuring two distinct timelines for Mark’s innie and outie—an idea he borrowed from Michael Keaton’s approach in “Multiplicity.” He maintained two versions of the scripts, each annotated differently to reflect the duality of his character. “By Season 2, it all blended into one large collection of documents,” he admits.

“Everyone has their own method of tracking everything,” Stiller adds, noting that Erickson has crafted detailed character biographies and histories. “We all immerse ourselves in the show to the extent that it becomes a part of who we are.”

A frequently discussed topic surrounding “Severance” is the three-year gap between seasons. The creators have attributed this delay to the Hollywood labor strikes. However, an April 2023 report cited issues such as “scrapped scripts,” “showrunners not communicating,” and a “toxic atmosphere” behind the scenes.

“What happens behind the scenes should remain behind the scenes. I prefer not to disclose the inner workings of the production because, honestly, it’s private,” Stiller asserts.

“Everyone on the show gets along well. There’s never been any awkwardness among us,” he reassures. However, he acknowledges, “Creative processes invariably involve some conflict, which is crucial because it prompts us to question and continually strive to ensure the choices we make will resonate in the long term.”

During our hour-long interview, I flip to a section in my notebook titled “Questions They Probably Won’t Answer.” I fire off questions at Stiller.

How many episodes have been scripted for Season 3? (A long pause.) “I prefer not to discuss where we are in our process.” How many seasons do you plan to produce in total? (A slight grin.) “No comment.” Will John Turturro return? (A broad smile.) “No comment.”

<p class="paragraph larva // lrv-u-margin-lr-auto lrv-a-font-body-m “Do you envision “Severance” as a franchise with potential spinoff shows?” Stiller responds thoughtfully: “There are two specific ideas—ones I won’t disclose—that we’ve discussed internally as possible spinoff concepts.” When asked about the development stage of these spinoff ideas or whether they’ve been presented to Apple, he simply smiles coyly and states, “They’re in the early stages.”

Regarding other expansions of the series, Stiller expresses a desire for a potential “Severance” video game. Scott concurs, stating, “I believe it lends itself well to that format.” Additionally, they envision creating merchandise like Lumon keyboards, ensuring that it feels “bespoke and special to the show.”

Both Stiller and Scott have amassed impressive showbiz careers, starring in beloved films and television shows that have resonated with audiences and stood the test of time. Thus, my concluding question is a challenging one: Is “Severance” the defining project of your careers?

“From the moment I read the script, I knew this was the culmination of everything I’ve worked towards,” Scott responds earnestly. “For 25 years, I’ve navigated through the industry to reach a point where I could land a role like this. It feels like a significant milestone for me.”

In agreement, Stiller adds, “Experiencing this at this juncture in my career—after having been in the industry for so long—I never want to take this for granted.”

Our conversation has extended beyond our allotted time, with dinner service approaching as patrons begin to arrive at the restaurant.

Perhaps Stiller and Scott can slip out the side exit, wearing shades, and blend into the vibrant cityscape. If they move quickly, maybe they can go more than ten steps without being approached about innies, outies, Gemma, or Helly.

Suddenly, a booming voice calls from inside the restaurant: “I’m just a nobody from the Bronx, but you two are absolutely amazing! Can I grab a quick picture with you?”

Not so fast.