Ben Stiller balances Severance season 3 with new film projects

Ben Stiller discusses aging, family, Severance season 3, and returning to star in the upcoming sequel Focker-in-Law.

Ben Stiller is preparing for a busy year as he balances directing, producing, and a return to acting.

The Emmy-winning director of Apple TV+’s Severance has been working closely with showrunner Dan Erickson and the writing team on season 3 while also developing several new projects.

One of his next ventures is Focker-in-Law, a sequel to the hit comedy franchise that began with Meet the Parents. Stiller, now older than co-star Robert De Niro was during the original film, admits he feels some nerves about returning to acting after years behind the camera.

Alongside the comedy, Stiller is pursuing more dramatic material, including a feature film about a downed airman in occupied France who joined the French Resistance, as well as an adaptation of Rachel Maddow’s Bag Man podcast, which investigated the bribery scandal of former vice president Spiro Agnew.

His creative drive is also shaped by personal reflection. Following the death of his father, comedian Jerry Stiller, in 2020, Stiller began developing a documentary about his parents, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, a beloved comedy duo whose marriage influenced his own perspective on family. He acknowledges parallels with his relationship with actress Christine Taylor, with whom he reconciled after a brief separation.

Stiller’s children, Ella and Quinlin, have both entered acting, with Ella recently making her off-Broadway debut. Watching her perform, Stiller says, reminded him of his parents’ early support during his own career.

Looking ahead, Stiller is open to new collaborations — even hinting that his acting idol Al Pacino could one day appear in Severance. For Stiller, time feels more valuable than ever, and he intends to use it pursuing projects that matter both professionally and personally.