Apple TV's New $70M Deal Could Finally End Its Greatest Sci-Fi Series’ Biggest Fan Complaint

2 weeks ago 13

Published Feb 13, 2026, 3:30 PM EST

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Carolyn Jenkins is a voracious consumer of film and television. She graduated from Long Island University with an MFA in Screenwriting and Producing where she learned the art of character, plot, and structure. The best teacher is absorbing media and she spends her time reading about different worlds from teen angst to the universe of Stephen King.

There is no denying that the television landscape has changed, but some prestige television has gotten out of hand. HBO may be the home of big-budget triumphs such as The Last of Us and House of the Dragon, but no one would know it based on its release schedule. Not so long ago, Game of Thrones episodes would drop every year, but now fans must wait years in between seasons.

HBO is not the only platform guilty of this. Apple TV+ has some of the most consistent series in terms of quality, but fans are forced to endure years of silence. The streaming network’s most successful sci-fi series, Severance, is the perfect show for fan engagement and has had some of the longest wait times. Viewers had to wait three years between Season 1 and Season 2 of the Ben Stiller-directed triumph. Though the sophomore season was worth the wait, it didn’t make up for the missed time. The years between seasons caused the story to lose momentum as fans wondered what happened after Mark S. (Adam Scott) and Helly R.'s (Britt Lower) nerve-wracking decision. In the heyday of premium television, waiting that long would have been unthinkable. According to Apple, however, this trend may soon become a thing of the past.

‘Severance’ Fans Won’t Have to Wait too Long For More Episodes

Apple TV+ has been the go-to destination for immersive sci-fi series that hearken back to the golden days of Lost. While one of the more underrated streamers, Apple TV+ has some of the best content. The platform seems to understand the power of Severance since it just acquired the IP from Fifth Season. Now, Apple will not just be the distributor of the series but will be Severance’s studio.

Production costs were the main motivation behind this decision. Severance costs millions of dollars to film each episode, and now that it is under the Apple umbrella, the studio can help shoulder that burden. This also means that the series will be released on a more regular schedule. Apple has announced that the show has been greenlit for four seasons, with production on Season 3 happening as early as summer 2026. Creator Dan Erickson has been vocal about the complexities of getting these stories filmed.

Severance features some of television's most intricate plot points and world-building, so, understandably, it takes some time to get the scripts under control. However, now that Apple is in full control of the show, it is likely that fans will see a shorter hiatus between seasons. Much of the shooting delay had to do with production costs. Severance was filmed in New York for tax credits and required some outside financing to bridge the gap. Now that Apple can help with these costs, there will be less time devoted to these concerns.

In the new age of streaming, this is the solution that many fans are looking for. When seasons are shorter than ever, it doesn’t make sense that viewers have to wait so long to get answers to pressing questions and see their favorite characters again. This will solve many issues with the landscape of streaming. While release dates are not finalized yet, this move is more consumer-friendly and may contribute to the longevity of one of television’s best shows.