Apple purchases ‘Severance’ intellectual property
Apple purchases ‘Severance’ intellectual property
The show had been licensed to stream on Apple TV previously, but its rights were owned by another production house.
One of the most popular shows in the history of Apple TV is now owned in full by the streamer’s parent company. That’s according to an exclusive report from Deadline, which indicates that Apple has now purchased all intellectual property (IP) surrounding “Severance.” The move puts Apple in total control of the show, and it is now free to start developing new prequel and spin-off titles around the original series if it so desires.
Key Details:
- We’ll take it: Apple has purchased the “Severance” IP from its former owner, Fifth Season.
- Patient approach: Apple’s pattern of leasing series from other studios helped it add new content to its streamer more quickly.
- Clear roadmap: Apple is planning a four-season run for “Severance,” and could add new shows set in the same universe.
Per Deadline’s reporting, Apple purchased the “Severance” IP and all attendant rights from former production house Fifth Season in a deal worth just under $70 million. Apple Studios will now be responsible for producing new episodes of the show, while Fifth Season will take on an executive producing role.
The financial burden of producing “Severance” eventually became so complex for Fifth Season that it had to ask Apple TV for advances to help with costs. Apple executives reportedly felt that owning the show outright would help it mitigate the challenges it was facing to get new seasons of “Severance” to viewers.
Apple is following a tried-and-true pattern as it continues to build up its streaming service. Like Netflix did once upon a time, Apple TV has started off by leasing shows from other studios in order to create a strong catalog. Since it now has a good inventory of titles to fall back on, it can take on more of the production duties for more of its shows.
Now that Apple owns “Severance” outright, it can begin to expand the on-screen universe in which the show is set. Deadline reports that the plan is for “Severance” to run for at least four seasons, and franchise expansions such as prequels or international versions of the show are now a possibility.
Season 3 of the show aspires to begin shooting this summer, if Apple can align the schedules of all involved. Scripts for the season are either finished or in the works, and the company is hoping to avoid the long delay the show saw between Seasons 1 and 2. Whether or not that happens, “Severance” has officially changed hands and will now be an “innie” production for Apple.
Apple TV
Apple TV (formerly known as Apple TV+) is a subscription video streaming service for $14.99 per month, offering a growing slate of original series, films, documentaries, and specials. Unlike other platforms that combine licensed titles with originals, Apple TV is built entirely around exclusive programming, making it the home of critically acclaimed hits such as “Ted Lasso,” “Severance,” “The Morning Show,” and “Silo.” Its lineup continues to expand with award-winning dramas, comedies, family-friendly shows, and blockbuster original films like “CODA,” which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.