Jessica Lee Gagné Is Leaving Severance to Focus on Directing Dreams

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Cinematographer Jessica Lee Gagné, who’s renowned for crafting the distinctive visual style of Severance, will not be returning for the series’ third season. Instead, she has chosen to dedicate herself entirely to directing, with aspirations to create her debut feature film.

Despite her deep affection for working on “Severance” and the many years spent collaborating with director and executive producer Ben Stiller to establish its unique visual style, Gagné felt the need for a change. She expressed that she had exhausted all the visual potential of Lumon Industries’ white, labyrinthine office environment and was eager to embark on fresh creative ventures.

Gagné had been contemplating departure prior to the start of season two. However, an opportunity to direct during that same season initially passed her by. This all shifted when she encountered a captivating synopsis for episode seven titled “Chikhai Bardo”. The narrative resonated deeply with her, causing her to reconsider her initial decision.



She shared that being asked to direct again was a common suggestion made to cinematographers. At first, she declined, but upon reading the synopsis for season two, especially episode seven, she felt compelled to take on the task. She admitted that since film school, she had suppressed this desire within herself. So, she decided it was now or never.

The episode she oversaw was a significant one within the series’ scope. It wove together two narratives: one portraying Mark (portrayed by Adam Scott) and Gemma’s (Dichen Lachman) romantic journey and attempts to create a family, alongside the harrowing account of Gemma being subjected to inhumane experiments on Lumon’s Testing Floor. In this warped reality, Lumon orchestrated her demise, secretly confining her below ground, compelling her to live through 25 distinct “innie” personas.

Gagne found herself deeply moved by the intricacy and emotional depth of the episode. It provided her an opportunity to craft something entirely fresh, both in terms of visuals and emotions. Moreover, she could resonate with the narrative on a very personal level.

In her own words, the show’s cinematographer expressed a strong desire to shape the visual language of the production, admitting a touch of self-interest in not delegating this task to others. Additionally, she felt a deep connection to the project as a woman and believed it was essential for a female director to take charge. This conviction came from an intuitive sense, and she was determined to safeguard her opportunity to direct this particular episode.

Currently, Gagné is concentrating on her future career as a director. It’s possible that she might rejoin the team of Severance in a new capacity, such as directing or producing upcoming episodes; however, no definite decisions have been made yet.

Moving from cinematography to directing seems like a logical progression for her, as it’s been a long-held aspiration dating back to her time in film school. At last, she’s embarking on this journey she’s yearned for.

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2025-06-05 09:44