Apple TV Spent a Staggering $200M on One Season of This Near-Perfect Sci-Fi Hit

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Published Feb 1, 2026, 8:21 AM EST

Jen Vestuto is a TV Features Writer for Collider. A born and raised New Yorker, she started her career on set as a production assistant for shows like Law & Order: SVU and Person of Interest. In LA, she worked in the writers' rooms for The Vampire Diaries and Nancy Drew. Along with her writing partner, she joined the writing staff of Nancy Drew in Season 2 and stayed on the run of the show, which ended in 2022 with Season 4.

Jen grew up on Long Island in a loud Italian family. She's been writing creatively since she was in elementary school and would often make her younger sister act out scenes from her favorite movies with her. Jen is also a massive sports fan and was an athlete herself growing up.

Writing features for Collider gives her the opportunity to share her passion for great storytelling and compelling characters.

Since its foray into television, Apple has never shied away from paying a premium for ambitious projects. From epic sci-fi series like Foundation and Silo to star-driven dramas such as The Morning Show, the streamer has made clear that big budgets are part of its strategy. But it didn't take long after Severance premiered for the series to become a cornerstone of Apple TV's identity. After Season 1 exploded into a cultural phenomenon, Apple doubled down in a major way, reportedly investing roughly $200 million into Season 2, up from about $120 million for its inaugural season.

It was a bold move, but one that showed just how much confidence the streamer had in the show — and one that ultimately paid off. Season 2 expanded the show's world, added integral characters, and cemented Severance as one of the most ambitious sci-fi series currently on TV. At a time when many streaming platforms are tightening budgets, Apple's willingness to spend big on Severance stands out and proves that, when the right show earns it, investing more can make something great even better.

Apple TV's Big Budget for 'Severance' Season 2 Was Evident on Screen

Much of Severance’s reported $200 million Season 2 budget is evident almost immediately. While Season 1 thrived within the claustrophobic confines of Lumon’s severed floor, Season 2 pushes far beyond it, expanding into new and visually striking locations. The ORTBO expedition in “Woe’s Hollow,” which places the MDR team outdoors on a frozen lake, stands out as one of the show’s most memorable episodes, not just for its scale, but for its performances and major turning points. Meanwhile, Harmony Cobel’s (Patricia Arquette) return to her hometown of Salt Neck, home to a shuttered Lumon ether factory in “Sweet Vitriol” further broadens the series’ scope while uncovering crucial new layers of its mythology.

Gwendoline Christie in front of the goats in Severance

The expanded budget also allowed Severance to grow its ensemble in meaningful ways. Merritt Wever's introduction as Gretchen, Dylan's wife, adds unexpected emotional context, while Gwendoline Christie's enigmatic Lorne (and her goats) and Sandra Bernhard's brief but memorable turn as a Lumon nurse further enrich the world. These additions deepen the series' thematic complexity without pulling focus from its core characters. The production design remains meticulous but operates on a grander scale, with larger sets, more elaborate staging and heightened visual ambition. With rave reviews for Season 2 and an obvious and expected Season 3 renewal, it's clear that Apple knew what it was doing in investing in one of its best shows.

'Severance' Season 2 Proved Apple TV's Investment Was Worth It

Mark S. and Helly R. run down a red-tinted hallway while holding hands in the Season 2 finale of Severance.

What makes Apple TV's gamble especially impressive is that Season 2 didn't sacrifice quality for scale. If anything, the expanded budget allowed Severance to lean further into what made it special in the first place. The series retained its unsettling tone, sharp writing, and powerhouse performances from its core cast. While Season 1 proved Severance could hook audiences with its high-concept premise, Season 2 showed it could meaningfully expand that momentum.

Viewership grew, the show continued to dominate the conversation, and it remained firmly in the awards spotlight, earning Emmy wins for Britt Lower and Tramell Tillman for their Season 2 performances. In an increasingly crowded streaming landscape, especially on its own platform, Severance still rises to the top. While its budget may be enormous, the show doesn't lean too hard on spectacle (save for Milchick's wonderfully bizarre drum sequence), but rather uses those resources to elevate what makes it one of the best series on TV.

Big budgets are often reserved for sci-fi spectacles heavy on visual effects or star power, as streamers chase movie-scale ambition. Apple TV's most expensive series, Masters of the Air, reportedly cost around $250 million, a figure that makes sense for a large-scale period war epic. Severance Season 2, however, reportedly sits just below that mark, tied with the alien sci-fi series Invasion’s first season, underscoring that the investment wasn’t about spectacle alone, but about brand identity and committing to a truly great show.

By the end of its second season, Severance more than justified Apple TV’s investment. Delivering a near-flawless sophomore season, something far easier said than done, the series proved it’s the kind of show that benefits from being fully supported rather than scaled back. By doubling down on Severance, Apple TV proved that the right combination of creators, material, and resources can produce television that keeps audiences coming back week after week.