# Apple Buys Severance IP for $70M, Handles Future Seasons
Apple has acquired the full intellectual property and rights to its blockbuster sci-fi series Severance from Fifth Season in a deal valued at just under $70 million, positioning the show as a cornerstone franchise under Apple Studios.[1][2][3] This strategic move grants Apple complete control over future seasons, potential spin-offs, and expansions, following production challenges that strained the original studio.[2][4]
Deal Details: Apple Takes Full Control of Severance IP
The acquisition, reportedly finalized in December, transitions Severance from an externally licensed production to an in-house Apple Studios project, with Fifth Season retained as an executive producer alongside creator Dan Erickson and director Ben Stiller.[2][3][6] Valued at approximately $70 million, the deal mirrors Apple's earlier takeover of sci-fi hit Silo after its first season, reflecting a broader strategy to internalize high-value content.[4][6] This shift allows Apple to manage escalating costs—up to $20 million per episode for season two—without relying on external partners facing financial pressures like delayed New York tax credits.[2][3]
Production hurdles for season two, including COVID-19 delays, Hollywood strikes, script rewrites, reshoots, and rising borrowing costs, prompted Fifth Season to seek advances from Apple and consider relocating to Canada for better rebates.[2][3][6] Apple opted for ownership to sustain filming in New York, leveraging its resources to absorb long timelines and keep the established production footprint intact.[2][4]
Severance's Massive Success and Critical Acclaim
Severance season two shattered records as Apple TV+'s most-watched series ever, amassing over 6.4 billion streaming minutes in its January-March 2025 run and driving a 126% surge in new subscribers during premiere weeks.[2][5] The show's intrigue—centered on employees with surgically separated work and personal memories at Lumon Industries—earned 27 Emmy nominations in 2025, securing eight wins including Outstanding Lead Actress for Britt Lower, Supporting Actor for Tramell Tillman, and technical categories like cinematography and sound mixing.[2][5] Surpassing even Ted Lasso, it solidified Severance as Apple's marquee title alongside shows like Stick and Palm Royale.[4][6]
Future Plans: Seasons 3, 4, and Franchise Expansion
Apple has renewed Severance for a third season, with most scripts locked and filming eyed for summer 2026, though a slight delay of a few weeks is possible due to extended development.[3][7] A fourth season is considered a near-certainty, aligning with the original four-season vision from Erickson and Stiller, while spin-offs, prequels, and even foreign adaptations are now viable under Apple's ownership.[3][4][5][7] This expansion aims to sustain viewer engagement during gaps and maximize profitability, recalibrating talent deals and backend compensation.[3]
Strategic Implications for Apple TV+ and Sci-Fi Slate
By bringing Severance in-house, Apple Studios—now producing about half of Apple TV+'s slate—strengthens its sci-fi portfolio and mitigates risks from external production volatility.[2][6] The deal underscores Apple's commitment to flagship franchises, enabling better financial flexibility and creative control amid rising streaming costs.[1][3] Showrunners remain open to broadening the universe, potentially boosting long-term subscriber retention and global appeal.[3][7]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deal value for Apple's acquisition of Severance IP?
Apple acquired the intellectual property and all rights to *Severance* from Fifth Season for just under $70 million.[1][2][3][5]
Why did Apple buy the Severance rights?
The purchase addresses Fifth Season's financial strains from season two's high costs (up to $20 million per episode), production delays, and tax credit issues, allowing Apple to manage future seasons in-house.[2][3][4][6]
How many seasons of Severance are confirmed?
The series is renewed for a third season, with a fourth considered certain, matching the creators' original four-season plan.[2][3][7]
Will there be Severance spin-offs or prequels?
Yes, Apple now plans potential spin-offs, prequels, and expansions, with showrunners Dan Erickson and Ben Stiller open to these possibilities.[1][3][4][5][7]
What was Severance season two's impact on Apple TV+?
It became Apple TV+'s most-watched series, with 6.4 billion streaming minutes and a 126% subscriber increase, plus 27 Emmy nominations and eight wins.[2][5]
Who is producing future Severance seasons?
Apple Studios will handle production, with Fifth Season as executive producer, alongside creator Dan Erickson and director Ben Stiller.[2][3][6]
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 3:50:33 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Apple Buys Severance IP for $70M, Handles Future Seasons**
Apple's $70 million acquisition of *Severance* IP from Fifth Season shifts production in-house under Apple Studios, mirroring its prior takeover of *Silo* from AMC Studios after season one and bolstering Apple's sci-fi portfolio against Netflix and Amazon[2][3][4][5]. This move addresses Fifth Season's budget strains—Season 2 cost up to $20 million per episode despite 6.4 billion streaming minutes—and secures full control over spin-offs, prequels, and Seasons 3-4, enabling Apple's performance-based talent bonuses to optimize costs and profitability[3][2]. Deadline reports Fifth Season sough
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 4:00:33 PM
**Breaking: Apple Acquires Severance IP for Just Under $70 Million, Secures Seasons 3 and 4.** In a strategic move reported by Deadline, Apple bought full intellectual property rights from Fifth Season—shifting production to Apple Studios amid Season 2's ballooning $20 million per-episode costs due to strikes, delays, and reshoots—while Fifth Season stays on as executive producer with creator Dan Erickson and director Ben Stiller[1][2][3][4]. Season 3 filming is set to start this summer 2026, a fourth season is "locked" internally, and showrunners are open to prequels, spinoffs, and international adaptations following Season 2's record
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 4:10:34 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Apple’s $70M Severance Acquisition Reshapes Streaming Production Wars**
Apple's acquisition of *Severance* IP from Fifth Season for just under $70 million shifts the competitive landscape by accelerating its in-house production dominance—now handling roughly half of Apple TV+'s slate—mirroring the prior *Silo* takeover from AMC Studios after season one[1][2][4]. This vertically integrated model lets Apple absorb sky-high costs like $20 million per episode for season two, sidestepping external studios' cash crunches from delays, strikes, and tax rebate waits that pushed Fifth Season toward Canada relocations[2][3]. Rivals now face a bolstered Apple franchise eyeing seasons 3-
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 4:20:33 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Fans Cheer Apple's $70M Severance IP Acquisition Amid Buzz for Seasons 3-4**
Consumers are hailing Apple's nearly $70 million purchase of *Severance* IP from Fifth Season as a win for the Emmy-sweeping series, with social media erupting in praise after it became Apple TV+'s most-watched show ever—Season 2 racked up 6.4 billion streaming minutes and drove a 126% surge in new subscribers during its January 2025 premiere.[1][2] "Finally, no more production delays—bring on the spin-offs and prequels!" tweeted one fan, echoing widespread excitement over Apple's in-house control ensuring Seasons 3 and 4
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 4:30:33 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Apple-Severance IP Acquisition Sparks Modest Stock Gains Amid Streaming Optimism**
Apple's $70 million acquisition of *Severance* IP from Fifth Season triggered a **1.2% intraday rise** in AAPL shares to $245.67, as investors cheered the move to in-house production after Season 2's $20 million-per-episode costs strained the prior studio.[2][3] Analysts hailed it as a "strategic win" for franchise expansion, including a locked Season 4 and potential spinoffs, bolstering Apple TV+'s marquee slate that saw *Severance* Season 2 double Season 1 viewership.[4][5] Trading volume surged 15
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 4:40:34 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Apple-Severance Deal Sparks Minimal Market Stir**
Apple's $70 million acquisition of the *Severance* IP from Fifth Season, securing full rights ahead of Season 3 under Apple Studios, elicited a subdued market response with Apple's stock (AAPL) holding steady at around $245 per share in after-hours trading, up just 0.2% from the day's close.[1][2] Analysts note the deal aligns with Apple's streaming push—tying bonuses to subscriber growth—but no significant volatility emerged, as it mirrors prior shifts like *Silo* without impacting broader investor sentiment on Apple's $3 trillion market cap.[1] "Fully owning *Severance* gives Apple greate
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 4:50:38 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Apple-Severance Deal Sparks Global Buzz Over Franchise Expansion**
Apple's $70 million acquisition of *Severance* IP from Fifth Season has ignited international excitement, with showrunners Dan Erickson and Ben Stiller signaling openness to **foreign adaptations** and spinoffs to broaden the sci-fi thriller's reach beyond U.S. audiences[3][8]. The move, stabilizing production after Season 2's $20 million-per-episode costs amid New York strikes, promises Seasons 3-4 starting summer 2026 and positions the Emmy-winning hit—boasting 6.4 billion streaming minutes—as a potential global franchise rivaling *Silo*'s in-house success[2][3]. Industry watchers i
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 5:00:47 PM
Apple has acquired complete intellectual property and all rights to *Severance* from Fifth Season for just under $70 million, shifting production entirely in-house to Apple Studios while Fifth Season remains as an executive producer[1][3]. The acquisition addresses mounting financial pressures—Season 2 production costs ballooned to approximately $20 million per episode due to strikes and delays—allowing Apple to stabilize budgets and keep filming anchored in New York rather than relocating to Canada for tax rebates[1][3]. With Season 3 targeting a summer 2026 filming start and a fourth season already considered a "lock" in Apple's internal planning, the deal positions *Severance* as a flagship
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 5:10:44 PM
**Apple's $70M acquisition of Severance IP elicited neutral market reactions, with TechCrunch labeling it as "Neutral Sentiment" amid broader AAPL trading dynamics.** Investors showed limited immediate response to the deal, which brings the Emmy-winning series fully in-house ahead of Season 3, as AAPL shares traded higher on AI server shipments from its new Houston factory and bullish analyst upgrades like Wells Fargo's raised price targets—offset by a UK App Store ruling risking ~$2B in damages.[2][4] No specific stock price swings were directly tied to the Severance purchase in today's sessions.[1][4]
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 5:20:46 PM
Apple has acquired full intellectual property and production rights to its hit series "Severance" from Fifth Season in a deal valued at just under $70 million, positioning the show as a long-term flagship franchise under Apple Studios[2][6]. The acquisition addresses production cost challenges that plagued the second season—which reportedly cost as much as $20 million per episode—by allowing Apple to absorb extended production timelines while maintaining filming in New York rather than relocating to Canada for tax advantages[2][3]. Industry observers note this mirrors Apple's earlier strategy with "Silo," signaling the streamer's shift toward owning high-value content, with the series expected to run for at least four seasons and potentially
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 5:30:46 PM
**LIVE NEWS UPDATE: Apple-Severance Deal Sparks Global Streaming Buzz**
Apple's $70 million acquisition of *Severance* IP from Fifth Season has reverberated worldwide, solidifying the Emmy-winning series—Season 2's 6.4 billion streaming minutes—as a cornerstone of Apple TV+'s international expansion amid fierce competition from Netflix and Disney+.[1][3] UK outlet Esquire hailed it as a game-changer for the show's future, noting Apple's full control enables potential "foreign versions" and spin-offs to tap diverse markets, while stabilizing budgets after Season 2's $20 million-per-episode costs threatened production.[7][8][3] Industry analysts predict a subscriber surge akin to Season
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 5:40:44 PM
**Apple's $70 million acquisition of Severance IP from Fifth Season marks a competitive shift in streaming, mirroring its prior buyout of Silo after season one and strengthening in-house control over high-cost flagships amid rivals' rising production expenses.[6][7]** This move addresses Fifth Season's Season 2 budget overruns at $20 million per episode—driven by strikes, delays, and New York filming—allowing Apple Studios to stabilize costs, reject relocation to Canada for tax rebates, and greenlight Seasons 3-4 plus potential spinoffs without external financial strains.[3][4][5] **By owning marquee sci-fi like Severance alongside Silo, Apple gains an edge in franchise expansion as other studios g
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 5:50:42 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Fans Cheer Apple's $70M Severance IP Acquisition Amid Expansion Hopes**
Consumers and fans are largely thrilled with Apple's nearly $70 million purchase of *Severance*'s full IP rights from Fifth Season, praising it as a commitment to the Apple TV+ juggernaut that topped viewership charts in season 2—doubling season 1's audience despite $20 million-per-episode costs—and snagged the most 2025 Emmy nominations.[1][2][5] Social media buzz highlights excitement for confirmed seasons 3 and 4, plus potential spin-offs and prequels showrunners Dan Erickson and Ben Stiller are "open to," with one viral post calling it "the best new
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 6:00:48 PM
Apple has acquired full ownership of "Severance" from Fifth Season for just under $70 million, bringing the hit series in-house under Apple Studios to produce future seasons starting with Season 3's anticipated summer 2026 production launch[1][3]. The deal positions "Severance"—which became Apple TV's most-watched series during Season 2 and received the highest number of nominations at the 2025 Emmy Awards—as a **flagship franchise** with plans for four seasons, spin-offs, and potential foreign versions[3][4]. Apple's acquisition allows the company to absorb the show's substantial production costs, which reached $20 million per episode in Season 2, while keeping
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 6:10:49 PM
**Breaking News Update: Apple Acquires Severance IP for ~$70M, Securing Franchise Control**
Apple's $70 million acquisition of *Severance*'s full IP from Fifth Season shifts production to Apple Studios, directly addressing Season 2's ballooning costs of nearly **$20 million per episode** amid strikes, COVID delays, and New York tax credit waits that strained Fifth Season's finances and prompted advance requests.[2][3][4] This in-house control stabilizes budgets, locks in a **fourth season** alongside confirmed Season 3 filming this summer, and enables spinoff exploration to boost profitability on a series that doubled Season 1 viewership.[2][5][7] Technically, it mirrors Appl