r/tvPlus • u/RussyDee • 2d ago

Apple initially thought that Adam Scott wasn’t fit for part of Mark S.? Discussion

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-severance-podcast-with-ben-stiller-adam-scott/id1788381175?i=1000682986169

According to episode 2 of ‘The Severance Podcast’ Apple initially thought that Adam Scott wasn’t fit for the part of Mark S. Who could they have thought was right for the part? Could you imagine someone else being Mark S.?

107 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

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u/pumpkin3-14 2d ago

He’s mainly done comedy up to that point. It’s not crazy that Apple probably wanted a bigger star, a more sure thing, in the lead given how much money they were putting towards the production. We’re lucky Stiller held his ground, and Adam Scott is humble and not a big ego guy.

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u/IndianaBones11 1d ago

Scott does a bunch of comedy but his work is typically in the role of a straight man. He has great chemistry with his cast mates but when I think of him as an actor I think of someone whose base traits are of a morose, sullen man and those traits play beautifully into the role of Mark in Severance.

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u/Halio344 1d ago

He’s not exactly similar but the way you describe him could also apply to Jason Bateman, who is terrific in more serious roles too. He’d not make a good Mark S though, Adam nailed the part.

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u/F4HLM4N 1d ago

Have you seen the movie Carry-On? Jason Bateman does a really good job playing the villain.

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u/Halio344 20h ago

I have! I thought the movie sucked but Jason was definitely not the problem. He’s great in Ozark too.

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u/Proof_Surround3856 1d ago

I think his dramatic roles in Severance and Big Little Lies have been some of my fave acting from him

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u/txdline 5h ago

Let's not forget Krampus!

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u/dorkimoe 2d ago

When I told my girlfriend to watch she literally didn’t want to because Adam Scott. I had to tell her he’s fantastic in this

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u/Wise_Concentrate_182 1d ago

He has been fantastic in many things. Perhaps your girlfriend needs to evolve her tastes :)

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u/dorkimoe 1d ago

I think she was only basing it on parks and rec! She’s a fan now

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u/Pupniko 1d ago

Cones of Dunshire though! I love his P&R character.

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u/GiftRecent 1d ago

That's crazy because he's the only reason I gave the show a chance 

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u/Soranos_71 1d ago

My wife and I watched Parks and Rec a couple of years ago and that was probably my first long term exposure to Adam Scott. I know it's been a decade since P&R ended and the actor has aged but something about his manner in this show especially the darker parts makes him work in the role for me.

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u/IAmAQuantumMechanic 1d ago

I also almost didn't see this because I hate his face.

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u/F4HLM4N 1d ago

I had no clue who Adam Scott was before watching Severance, and I too have trouble watching it because of his face.

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u/Ginataang_Manok 1d ago

They probably thought and hoped it was Ben Stiller that was going to lead the series when he pitched it lol.

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u/DizzyDjango 2d ago

If we’re playing pretend, I think a Stranger Than Fiction version of Will Ferrell would be pretty good at it.

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u/SpeakingTheKingss 2d ago

I’d love that.

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u/F4HLM4N 1d ago

Will Ferrell isn't good in anything Will Ferrell is in, so I can't imagine him being good at anything, including Severance.

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u/moderatenerd 2d ago

I could picture either Bob odenkirk or byran Cranston in that role. Good amount of drama and comedy mix. They play straight white unhinged guy pretty well. Joel Mchale maybe as well.

Steve Carrell might take the cake as he has a working relationship with apple. So...

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u/Calcutec_1 1d ago

Yeah they would have been good, but then there would be two old guys in the team, Adam brings better balance.

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u/kepachodude 2d ago

Omg there’s a severance podcast!!?

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u/RussyDee 1d ago

There most certainly is! There are companion episodes released every weekday for season 1 leading to the 2nd season premiere then 1 recap episode thereafter.

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u/pumpkin3-14 1d ago

Just released today! New episode every day until the new season drops

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u/kepachodude 1d ago

Sweet baby jesus. I haven’t been this excited since I doubt the HBO official Chernobyl podcast.

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u/Saar13 2d ago

Apple has this habit of thinking that an A-list actor is more important than a good script.

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u/ido_ks 2d ago

Huh? Apple never compromised scripts over stars (on TV)

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u/Tarquin11 1d ago

You are talking about the program with some of the most well received scripts on television in the last 5 years....

What habit are we talking about exactly?

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u/CaughtALiteSneez 1d ago

How so? Not too many A listers on Apple aside from The Morning Show and that abysmal Pitt & Clooney film.

I started a rewatch yesterday and I was just thinking about how Apple was likely the only platform to give such a bonkers show a chance & it worked in the best way possible.

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u/wujo444 1d ago edited 1d ago

So you've missed Henry Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Micheal Douglas, Colin Farrell, Seth Rogen, Eva Longoria, and that's without going into pre 2024 shows?

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u/CaughtALiteSneez 1d ago

Who’s Henry Ford? ;)

Wouldn’t consider Eva Longoria A list lol

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u/wujo444 1d ago

The guy that started Ford Motor Company d'uh!

Longoria might not be movie star but she is extremely popular in Latin America.

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u/CaughtALiteSneez 1d ago

Cool! I’ve actually met her and she’s super nice

But you are right … there are more, needed more coffee this AM. But aside from Michael Douglas and Eva Longoria, the “A Listers” mentioned are in very good projects. My opinion is subjective however but seems to line up with critics / viewers :)

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u/ALaccountant 1d ago

And so many others