Ben Stiller and Tramell Tillman surprised Zoolander fans with a fun Severance crossover. The 2001 comedy stars Stiller as a fashion model, Derek Zoolander, who is brainwashed in an attempt to ᴀssᴀssinate the Prime Minister of Malaysia. The movie, which Stiller co-wrote and directed, grossed over $60 million against a $28 million production budget, leading to a sequel with an even wilder plot.
Years later, Stiller executive-produced and directed several episodes of the Apple TV sci-fi series, Severance, which explores the technology to separate a person’s work memory from personal memory. The series’ star-studded cast features Adam Scott as Mark, Britt Lower as Helly R., Christopher Walken as Burt, and Tillman as Milchick.
Per Variety, at the Cinespia Zoolander screening, Stiller and Tillman made a surprise appearance. Stiller took the stage in character as Derek and thanked the audience for showing up at Zoolander 2‘s nine-year anniversary screening (the event was for the original movie, which turns 24 this year) before his introduction was interrupted by Tillman’s marching band.
The band played the music from Severance season 2 finale, and Stiller told them that this was “kind of more like a Zoolander thing.“ Tillman then blew the whistle, and the band started playing a song from the movie instead.
What This Means For Zoolander & Severance
Since Severance‘s arrival on the streaming platform, many fans, especially those who loved Zoolander, have theorized that the sci-fi TV show might be set in the same universe as Stiller’s 2001 comedy movie. The fun crossover could very well be in reaction to the buzz among the fandom. The star has previously opened up about checking in on podcasts and theories, despite being cautious about their impact on the show.
In 2016, Stiller participated in an Ask Me Anything Q&A on Reddit, which mainly centered around Severance. On the other hand, while the hit Apple TV series was made under his production company, and he was very creatively involved in the process, Stiller didn’t write the script, and hence, it’s very unlikely for Zoolander and Severance to share the same universe.
Our Take On Zoolander & Severance’s First Crossover
The surprising Zoolander and Severance crossover is a fun way to engage fans who love both. Meanwhile, Stiller’s subtle comment clarifying that Tillman and his marching band are playing the wrong song also seems to hint at the two projects not being connected to each other.
Regardless, the Zoolander crossover opens doors for future possibilities. The hit sci-fi show has been frequently referred to in interviews, sparking a strong interest in potential crossovers. Seth Rogen joked about running away from the severed floor while trying not to spoil the ending of The Studio, and Adam Scott himself has discussed the Parks & Recs crossover theories.
