AppleInsider Staff
Christopher Walken has joined the cast of Apple TV+ drama "Severance," with the Oscar winner committed to the project alongside other big names like John Turturro and Patricia Arquette.
Produced and directed by Ben Stiller, "Severance" is a workplace thriller drama set at Lumen Industries. The company seeks to fundamentally alter the work-life balance of its customers through a "severance procedure" that separates work and out-of-work memories.
Walken will play Burt, Head of Optics and Design at Lumen Industries, reports Deadline. The role is a lead part, with Walken joining fellow co-stars Adam Scott, Patricia Arquette, Tramell Tillman, Jen Tullock, Zach Cherry, Britt Lower and John Turturro.
The story appears to focus around Scott's character Mark, who is described as an employee with a dark past. Arquette plays Mark's boss, while Turturro stars as a dependable Lumen Industries employee. Turturro's involvement was reported last week.
Dan Erickson is credited as the show's creator and will write and executive produce. Chris Black is also tapped as an executive producer alongside Nicky Weinstock and Jackie Cohn. Endeavor Content is named as a producer along with Scott and Arquette.
Apple is slowly building out its Apple TV+ stable with original shows and purchased content. Most recently, it was announced that Apple landed a multi-year deal that has former "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart covering current events.
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11 Comments
Are these actors actually working for Apple or working for the production company?
Virtually all actors have agents, and I expect that all agents have legal signing authority to commit the actor to a project. Last I heard, Bill Murray does not have an agent so he has to sign on his own behalf, as a result he doesn't have to pay his agent (maximum 10% in New York, maximum 25% in California) but on the other hand Murray rarely gets parts worthy of himself.
I would note that an agency's cut of 25% would be less than Apple's cut of 30% for apps on the App Store.