Severance Director Compares Adam Scott’s Risky Hire to Breaking Bad Star’s Breakout

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As a movie enthusiast with over three decades of film industry experience under my belt, I must say that Ben Stiller’s directorial work on Severance has been nothing short of remarkable. The way he champions for his talented cast members and stands firm against studio doubts is commendable.

In the realm of television, Adam Scott’s portrayal of Mark Scout in Severance reminds me of Bryan Cranston’s transformation from Malcolm in the Middle to Walter White in Breaking Bad. Both actors have demonstrated an uncanny ability to completely immerse themselves in their characters and take us on a rollercoaster ride of emotions.

What I find particularly fascinating is Stiller’s assertion that Scott, despite his humble beginnings, can reach the same level of success as Cranston. As someone who has spent countless hours watching movies and observing actors, I can confidently say that Stiller knows a thing or two about spotting talent.

However, it seems that Adam Scott is struggling with impostor syndrome, which is quite common among artists. In my years in the industry, I’ve learned that many talented individuals often downplay their abilities due to fear of being found out. But let me tell you something, Mr. Scott – if you can’t see your own talent, then maybe it’s time for a little more “Zoolander” in your life!

Now, onto the joke: I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if Mark Scout’s relationship with Seth Milchick will be as rocky as my last attempt at making a soufflé!

The much-anticipated second season of “Severance” on Apple TV+ is just weeks away from release, yet before that, the director of the series, Ben Stiller, shares insights about his advocacy for Adam Scott’s character in the show, likening him to Bryan Cranston of “Breaking Bad.” In other words, Stiller discusses his efforts to secure Scott’s role and draws comparisons between Scott and Cranston from “Breaking Bad.

Earlier, actor-director Stiller, best known for films like Zoolander and Tropic Thunder, expressed an idea that Severance season two might’ve taken a drastically different path, possibly resembling The Office. Fortunately, this concept didn’t come to fruition, as Severance instead captivated audiences with its unique and bizarre portrayal of office workers whose memories are surgically separated between their professional and personal lives, ultimately earning numerous awards for its exceptional storytelling.

Severance’s Ben Stiller Talks About Parallels Between Adam Scott and Bryan Cranston

As reported by IndieWire, Ben Stiller, the director of “Severance”, firmly advocated for Adam Scott to play the character of Mark Scout, the former history professor in the series, despite Apple’s initial reservations about Scott’s ability to carry the lead role. Stiller and Scott have been friends for over a decade following their collaboration on the comedy film “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”, where Stiller’s character, Walter, embarks on a voyage to break free from his mundane existence in search of something more significant.

Stiller also noted that Bryan Cranston, who played Walter White in “Breaking Bad”, and Adam Scott had similar journeys to success. As Stiller put it, “There are actors like Bryan Cranston who can transform when they take on a specific role, and that’s what I experienced with him in ‘Breaking Bad’. That’s how I feel about Adam Scott’s performance in ‘Severance’.” This refers to Cranston’s rise from his early role in “Malcolm in the Middle” to his award-winning portrayal of Walter White, and Stiller’s observation that Scott has similarly impressed him in his recent work.

While Stiller exudes self-assurance about his acting skills, Scott admits to harboring doubts and fear that others might perceive him as arrogant. He also mentioned his struggle with imposter syndrome, a feeling that he’s not as talented as people think, which he believes has been misused for self-deprecation by many. The upcoming season of “Severance” seems to present additional challenges for Scott, as the first image of Mark suggests a strained relationship with Seth Milchick.

I’m crossing my fingers that the second season of Severance can start shedding light on some of its puzzles, such as the vanishing of Ms. Casey and what transpires now that Mark’s outie is aware of his wife’s truth. Regardless of whether it’s good or bad news, viewers won’t have to wait long to discover more, as Season 2 of Severance will drop on Apple TV+ on January 17, 2025.

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2024-12-30 16:23