Ben Stiller Won't Direct Season 3 of "Severance". Instead He'll Make a Film About a Downed Pilot

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The actor is stepping back from directing the third season of "Severance" — the project that largely established his new reputation as a serious filmmaker.

He directed 11 episodes across the first two seasons, but now he's decided to focus on other projects: a family documentary, the next "Meet the Parents" installment, and a war film.

Documentary Film

In an interview with LA Times, Stiller revealed he recently wrapped a documentary called "Stiller and Meara: Nothing Lost," dedicated to his late parents — comedy actors Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara.
Actors Jerry Stiller in a black tuxedo and Anne Meara in a dark dress
Ben Stiller's parents
Source: @appletv
The premiere is set for October 2025. The film promises to be deeply personal and moving:
It's such an honor for me to celebrate my parents as I knew them growing up, and to see them in a new light through working on this film.
Ben Stiller on "Stiller and Meara: Nothing Lost"

New "Meet the Parents" Chapter

The actor is also returning to the franchise that made him a global favorite. The fourth "Meet the Parents" film is in development, with a 2026 premiere expected.
Actors Robert De Niro in a green sweater and Ben Stiller in a green jacket standing next to trees with yellow leaves
Scene from "Meet the Parents"
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Plot details are still under wraps. But we know (Greg) and De Niro (Jack) will reprise their lead roles. Among the new cast members is Ariana Grande. Her role remains mysterious, but according to Ben, she'll be kind of the driving force of the new movie.

World War II Resistance Film

The main project Stiller's focusing on in the coming years is a war film about a World War II pilot.

The story follows an airman shot down over France who survives and joins the Resistance. As a reminder: the French Resistance was an underground movement that fought against Nazi occupation. Its members gathered intelligence, conducted sabotage operations, and aided the Allies.
Actor Ben Stiller in a black jacket and a series poster featuring a man in a gray jacket
Ben Stiller and "Severance" series poster
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For Stiller, this represents a significant move toward serious, dramatic filmmaking. Sure, audiences know him for comedy, but projects like "Severance," "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," and "Brad's Status" have already proven he can work in different genres.

It's unclear whether Stiller will star in the new film or stick to directing. We're hoping for both.

After "Severance," audiences trust Ben with drama too. Now it'll be interesting to see if he can shoot war as intensely as he portrayed office life. Earlier, we at zoomboola.com provided more details about the development of the fourth "Meet the Parents" franchise film.