If you’ve ever felt like your work life and personal life should be surgically separated, you aren’t alone—and Apple just bet nearly $70 million that you’ll want to keep watching others struggle with that exact dilemma. In a move that feels strangely appropriate for a show about total corporate control, Apple has officially acquired the full intellectual property rights to its hit sci-fi thriller, Severance.
This isn’t just a standard renewal announcement. According to reports surfacing this week, Apple has purchased the rights outright from the original production studio, Fifth Season. This deal fundamentally changes who calls the shots for the employees of Lumon Industries. For fans who white-knuckled their way through the delays of Season 2, this is massive news. It signals that Apple is done renting its biggest hits—it wants to own them.
Why did Apple buy the full rights to Severance now?
You might be wondering why a tech giant would drop $70 million to buy a show that is already airing on its platform. The short answer? Stability and control.
The production of Severance hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing. Season 2, which finally aired in early 2025, was plagued by significant delays and what industry insiders described as financial strain. The show’s original studio, Fifth Season, has reportedly been facing hurdles regarding rising borrowing costs and delayed tax credits in New York. These financial hiccups threatened to derail the momentum of one of streaming’s most critically acclaimed series.
By stepping in and acquiring the IP, Apple eliminates the middleman’s financial woes. They are effectively stabilizing the franchise’s future. This deal allows Apple Studios to bring production entirely in-house. Considering reports that production costs ballooned to $20 million per episode during the second season, bringing the checkbook in-house allows Apple to exercise tighter control over budgets and timelines. Fifth Season isn’t disappearing, though; they will transition into an executive producer role, but the driver’s seat now belongs to Apple Studios.
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