Severance: Filming for season 3 has begun

Apple TV's official account has confirmed what millions of viewers have been waiting for since the season 2 finale: filming has begun for the third season of Severance. They've also released a first, deliberately grainy production photo – and a number that illustrates just how long and arduous the journey to get here has been.

Filming was originally scheduled to begin in the spring: In March, production on Severance Season 3 was about to start, with a spring start date being expected. Spring turned into midsummer. Now the start is official: Director and executive producer Ben Stiller posted a picture from the set on X, which the streaming service's account shared shortly afterward, commenting with the request, "frolic in moderation" - a reference to one of the key scenes in the second season.

What the first set photo shows

The image is intentionally low-resolution and only reveals outlines. Mark S. and Helly R. can apparently be seen running through the corridors of Lumon Industries – a direct connection to the final moments of season 2. There, Mark had chosen Helly over the planned reunion of his outie with Gemma, a cliffhanger that left the central question of the series unanswered.

Apple has not released any further details regarding the plot, number of episodes, or cast. The currently confirmed information on cast, production, and release date is compiled in the overview for Severance Season 3.

Please frolic in moderation. https://t.co/C3x8ZXyjQN
— Apple TV (@AppleTV) July 27, 2026

Sixteen months between extension and start of filming

Apple announced the third season on March 21, 2025 – the same day the last episode of season 2 aired. This meant that roughly sixteen months passed before filming actually began. By comparison, the second season was ordered in April 2022, and Apple officially announced the start of production at the end of October of the same year – almost seven months later.

The fact that the lead time has more than doubled this time around tempers the optimism recently expressed by those close to the production. Lead actor Adam Scott had stated in May that they planned to release the season significantly earlier than the previous one. This intention remains, but the clock is ticking from a later starting point than was anticipated in the spring.

No official start date

Apple has still not announced a premiere date. Season 2 ran from January 17 to March 21, 2025, with ten weekly episodes. Almost three years passed between the start of Season 1 in February 2022 and this second season, due to script revisions, reshoots, and the Hollywood strikes of 2023.

The dates currently circulating for 2027 are projections based on typical filming and post-production times, not official company information. So far, the only confirmed fact is that filming is taking place.

Why Apple is under particular pressure with this series

Severance is the most successful title in the streaming service's catalog. The second season garnered 27 Emmy nominations and eight wins, giving the service its biggest Emmy night to date. In February, Apple also acquired all rights to the series from its previous studio, Fifth Season.

This means that season 3 represents not only the continuation of a story, but also an investment for which Apple is entirely responsible. The longer the gap between seasons becomes, the greater the risk that the audience will tune in elsewhere in the meantime.

Lumon resumes work

Viewers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland will not experience any changes to access: Severance will be streamed simultaneously worldwide; there is no regional delay for this series. Once Apple announces a release date or releases further production footage, we can expect the first reliable information about the length of the new season. (Image: Apple)