Apple is taking full control of its dystopian hit ‘Severance,’ acquiring the intellectual property from production studio Fifth Season in a deal valued at a reported $70 million. The move brings the expensive-to-produce series fully under Apple Studios' roof, giving the company the reins to a flagship franchise.
A pricey performance: The deal follows a blockbuster second season that shattered viewership records for Apple TV+ and dominated the Primetime Emmy Awards. But the show's ambitious production also came with a notoriously high price tag, with costs reportedly reaching $20 million per episode—a figure that strained the original studio's finances.
Innie-verse expansion: With the IP now secured, Apple is doubling down on the franchise. The show's creator, Dan Erickson, and director Ben Stiller are both staying on for a planned third and fourth season, and the acquisition clears the way for Apple to build out a larger universe with potential prequels and spin-offs.
The strategy mirrors Apple's earlier move to acquire the sci-fi drama 'Silo' from AMC Studios. It signals a clear intent to own its most valuable franchises outright, securing long-term control over its flagship content. It shows Apple is willing to pay top dollar to build a library of valuable, long-lasting IP that it can control and monetize for years to come.
