Barack Obama, the former President of the United States, recently turned down an opportunity that could have been his big break in Hollywood. He was asked to make a special appearance, known as a cameo, in the popular TV show *Severance*. However, Obama declined the offer, and as a result, the role eventually went to the famous actor Keanu Reeves. This interesting story was shared by Ben Stiller, who is involved with the show.
*Severance* is a science fiction psychological thriller series available on Apple TV+. The show has gained a lot of attention and recently released its second season. It features a talented cast, including well-known actors like Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Ditchen Lachman, and John Turturro. The show was created by Dan Erickson, with a team of writers including Erickson himself, Mohamad el Masri, Amanda Overton, Chris Black, and Helen Leigh. The first season premiered in February 2022 and quickly became a hit.
Ben Stiller, who is one of the producers of *Severance*, recently revealed that the show’s creators wanted Barack Obama to play a specific role in the second season. The role involved voicing a character named Lumon in a training video that appears in the show. Stiller shared this story during an appearance on *Jimmy Kimmel Live*. He explained that he personally reached out to Obama to ask if he would be interested in the role. However, Stiller didn’t contact Obama directly. Instead, he reached out to someone who knew Obama’s lawyer, who then passed along the request.
Stiller wrote an email to Obama, and to his surprise, the former President responded within just two days. In his reply, Obama expressed that he was a big fan of *Severance* and had enjoyed the first season. He also mentioned that he was looking forward to watching the second season. However, Obama politely declined the offer to voice the character, explaining that he didn’t have enough time in his schedule to take on the role. Stiller joked that he couldn’t imagine what could be more important for Obama than voicing an “animated building,” but he also praised Obama for being kind enough to respond to the request.
After Obama declined, the role was offered to Keanu Reeves, who accepted it. Reeves is a well-known actor famous for his roles in movies like *The Matrix* and *John Wick*. Stiller thought it was “pretty cool” that Obama took the time to reply, even though he couldn’t participate in the show.
In other news, there has been a lot of interest in Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, recently. Rumors have been circulating that the couple might be considering a divorce, although these rumors have not been confirmed. Despite this, several news outlets are reportedly eager to interview the Obamas and are willing to pay huge sums of money for the opportunity. Some reports suggest that outlets are ready to pay up to $10 million each to Barack and Michelle if they agree to an interview.
The media is particularly interested in this story because, if true, it would be the first time a U.S. President and First Lady have divorced after leaving the White House. This would be a historic event, and many believe it would attract a lot of public attention. Oprah Winfrey, one of the most famous interviewers in the world, is said to be among those who would love to sit down with the Obamas for a conversation.
In summary, Barack Obama turned down a chance to appear in *Severance*, a popular TV show, due to his busy schedule. Keanu Reeves ended up taking the role instead. Meanwhile, the Obamas are in the spotlight again, with rumors about their personal life sparking interest from media outlets willing to pay millions for an exclusive interview.
