Spoilers under for any potential Lumon workers who haven’t but watched the Season 2 premiere with an Apple TV+ subscription, so be warned!
With its long-awaited Season 2 premiere, Severance put viewers proper again into the secret-filled Lumon constructing, with Adam Scott’s Mark working maniacally by way of its limitless hallways for the opening scene. The episode delivers a number of different immediately memorable sequences to theorize about, together with the introduction and obvious dismissal of a brand new cubicle crew, however I used to be significantly obsessive about Lumon’s stop-motion video chronicling the “Microdat Rebellion.” And that was earlier than I discovered the animated administrative constructing was voiced by KEANU REEVES.
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After the preliminary intuition to smack myself for not instantly recognizing his dulcet tones, regardless of any apparent makes an attempt to cover it, I shortly shifted to reflecting on simply how sensible a transfer it was to deliver the Invoice & Ted star in to painting a seemingly playful and informative mascot whose rigorously chosen phrases aren’t essentially probably the most trustworthy and useful for the MDR workforce. So let’s dive into all of it after rewatching the scene under.
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Keanu Reeves’ Voice And Zen-ergy Make It Simple To Imagine Something He Says
With restricted exceptions resembling The Present, Evil Ted and Sonic the Hedgehog 3‘s anti-hero Shadow, Keanu Reeves could be very usually forged in protagonist roles that viewers are completely satisfied to consider in and root for. From Velocity‘s Jack Traven to Level Break‘s Johnny Utah to the franchise-leading John Wick — to say nothing of Toy Story 4‘s Duke Caboom — Reeves’ most iconic characters additionally exude coolness and badassery, making it even simpler to take their sides.
So who higher to relay Lumon’s placating message to Adam Scott’s Mark, Britt Decrease’s Helly, Zach Cherry’s Dylan and John Turturro’s Irving? Whether or not or not one is conscious of the actor’s involvement, the Lumon Administrative Constructing remains to be inarguably calming and reassuring the complete time, even whereas stating “info” that viewers already know are false.
You sorta wish to consider in all of it, as a result of why would such a soothing voice be saying it in any other case? I can think about related emotions arising if Morgan Freeman, Daniel Craig, or Denzel Washington had been forged. Possibly they’ll present as much as vocalize Lumon movies sooner or later.
Creator Dan Erickson Explains Concepts Behind Casting The ‘Lumon Administrative Constructing’
Having introduced up different actors whose on-screen roles connote related reliable traits, it’s value noting that Keanu Reeves wasn’t essentially the primary and solely alternative that creator Dan Erickson had in thoughts to provide a Cliffs Notes model of Season 1’s occasions. He didn’t namecheck any of the opposite actors that had been contacted, however did discuss to Collider concerning the thought course of behind casting this animated constructing, saying:
All I can say is that we talked about a few totally different folks for that position. We at all times needed it to be any person that individuals have sure associations with, but additionally, it needed to be a really heat presence. The Lumon constructing could be very pleasant within the context of this video, and there’s a friendliness to that individual voice and a coronary heart to that individual voice.
Erickson brings up some extent right here that’s key to Keanu Reeves being such an ideal alternative: the constructing itself is definitely good and useful to an extent, versus harboring the nefarious motivations of the Lumon workers who created it. Granted, I feel Reeves may painting a real-life Lumon board member, and I might nonetheless purchase into all the things he says even understanding his character is implicitly evil not directly.
Casting Keanu Reeves In This Position Is Even Extra Good For Thematic Causes
Within the annals of cinema and TV historical past, few tasks and actors signify the ideas office profundity and duality of self like Keanu Reeves and The Matrix. Are these films about mild-mannered Thomas Anderson as an initially clueless Innie, because it had been, or are they concerning the all-knowing Neo who has the power to have an effect on each variations of actuality?
Clearly the Wachowskis’ seminal 1999 movie and its sequels (together with the equally uneven Matrix Resurrections) aren’t completely analogous when set alongside the mysterious and essential journey these characters are embarking on, their paths do cross in sure respects. Significantly with regards to the concept of Mark taking Petey’s recommendation and mixing his recollections by way of reintegration.
If the Severed Ground’s merchandising machines now offered Pink Tablets and Blue Tablets amongst such debuting choices as minimize beans and salsa, which may have appeared a bit TOO on the nostril. However having Keanu Reeves deal with the injury management for MDR will get the identical undertones throughout in a much more clandestine method. And one that’s actually non-non-non-henious.
I can not think about Invoice & Ted‘s Alex Winter will present up subsequent, however we do know that Recreation of Thrones vet Gwendoline Christie will arrive quickly to shine extra gentle on the goat mysteries. Remember to keep present with new episodes hitting Apple TV+ each Friday.