Christopher Walken reveals that Severance co-star John Turturro personally advocated for him to play Burt, the Department Head of Optics & Design and Turturro's romantic interest. Back with an exciting sophomore run, the psychological thriller Severance explores the unsettling implications of separating one's work and personal memories through the journey of Lumon Industries' severed employees. Walken's Burt and Turturro's Irving are among the most beloved character dynamics of the Apple TV+ show, which also stars Adam Scott, Britt Lower, and Zach Cherry.
In an interview with Collider, Walken expressed his gratitude for both the casting and the opportunity to work alongside Turturro. Over the course of Severance season 1, their characters bonded through a shared appreciation for art, which gradually deepened into a romantic connection. As Burt and Irving increasingly sneak out of their departments to rendezvous amid the Severed Floor, their love story comes to highlight both the strange intimacy and oppression of Lumon’s workplace. Here's what he had to say:
I've only learned that recently, and I'm very glad to hear it. I’m glad it happened. I think one of the things about Burt and Irving has to do with Chris and John. I've known John for a very long time — 40 or 50 years. We were young actors, going around New York looking for work. I've known him a long time. He's a terrific director, and I've been in two or three of his movies. I know his family. You can tell when you see people together that they've known each other a long time, that they like each other, they laugh at each other's jokes, they finish sentences, and so I think it makes absolute sense that John and I would be playing people who love each other.
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Burt and Irving’s love affair has been a highlight of Severance’s emotional core. When Irving's innie discovers that Burt already has a romantic partner outside of Lumon, the heartbreak radiates beyond the scene, resonating deeply with audiences who had hoped to see the pair reconnect following Burt's sudden retirement from the company. Turturro’s personal push for Walken’s casting shows how authentic relationships can elevate storytelling, with both actors receiving an Emmy nomination for their performance in Severance season 1.
Apple TV+'s mind-bending series Severance returned after a lengthy break in early 2025, but will the Lumon employees return in season 3?
The secret to Walken and Turturro’s undeniable chemistry in Severance lies in their decades-long friendship. The duo most recently worked together on The Jesus Rolls, a 2019 R-rated romantic comedy written and directed by Turturro, and previously collaborated on Turturro's 2005 dark musical comedy Romance & Cigarettes. Over the years, they’ve cultivated a genuine camaraderie that translates seamlessly into their performances, allowing Burt and Irving’s interactions to radiate an effortless affection—every soft touch and tender moment taking on a natural ease and warmth.
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Walken’s casting as Burt in Severance is nothing short of inspired, and his decades-long friendship with Turturro brings an unmatched authenticity to their on-screen romance. Burt and Irving’s tender relationship stands as a quiet rebellion against Lumon’s sterile world with every subtle touch. Thanks to Turturro’s push for Walken’s casting, Severance gained one of its most compelling dynamics — a partnership that could be another key to unraveling the mysteries of the Severed Floor in season 2.
Severance is a psychological thriller series featuring Adam Scott as Mark Scout, an employee at Lumon Industries who undergoes a "severance" procedure to separate his work and personal memories. However, as work and life personas mysteriously begin to collide, it quickly becomes clear that not all is as it seems. Created by Dan Erickson and directed by Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle, Severance is one of the biggest hits on Apple TV+.
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