It is actually kind of wild when you think about it. One day, you’re working a soul-crushing office job in Los Angeles, literally wishing you could split your brain in half just to survive the 9-to-5 grind. The next, you’ve created one of the most talked-about sci-fi thrillers of the decade. That is the reality for Dan Erickson.
Most people know him as the mastermind behind Severance, the Apple TV+ behemoth that made us all terrified of waffles and elevators. But if you look at the full list of Dan Erickson movies and tv shows, you start to see a much weirder, scrappier picture of a writer who spent a decade in the "outer" world before Lumon ever existed.
He didn't just fall out of the sky with a hit show. He worked. A lot.
The Long Road to Lumon
Dan Erickson grew up in Olympia, Washington. No Hollywood connections. No silver spoon. He was basically a guy with a theater degree from Western Washington University who eventually landed at NYU for a Masters in Dramatic Writing.
While at Western, he wrote a play called Convention. Honestly, if you read the premise, it’s basically the "grandfather" of Severance. It followed a group of coworkers who realized they had never actually left their office. It was surreal, dark, and probably a bit claustrophobic—themes that clearly never left his head.
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Before he was a household name in the prestige TV world, Erickson was grinding in the industry trenches. We're talking assistant editor work on shows like Blue Bloods and The Good Fight. He even spent time as a post-production PA on the Sofia Coppola film Somewhere.
- Lip Sync Battle Preshow (2016–2018): Yeah, he wrote for this. It’s a far cry from the psychological torture of Helly R, but it’s part of the journey.
- Super Deluxe: He worked in development for this experimental (and now defunct) entertainment company.
Dan Erickson Movies: The Indie Roots
If you search for Dan Erickson movies, you aren't going to find a Marvel blockbuster—at least not yet. You’ll find the work of a filmmaker who loves high-concept, slightly off-kilter storytelling.
Take Treasure Trouble. Erickson wrote, directed, and produced this feature. It hit the festival circuit, playing at places like the Austin Film Festival and the Napa Valley Film Festival. It’s an indie film through and through, showing a side of his creativity that isn't quite as cold and clinical as the hallways of Lumon.
Then there’s A Sibling Mystery (2017). He co-wrote and co-directed this one with Rachel Wortell. It’s a comedy about a brother and sister who become convinced a mysterious woman is living in their apartment. Again, there’s that "mystery box" energy—the idea that something hidden is happening right under your nose.
Key Filmography Highlights
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | League of Wonder | Writer | Short Film |
| 2017 | A Sibling Mystery | Co-Writer / Co-Director | Feature Film |
| 2018 | Treasure Trouble | Writer / Director | Feature Film |
| 2022– | Severance | Creator / Showrunner | TV Series |
The Severance Explosion
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. Severance changed everything. The pilot script for the show sat on the "Blood List" (a list of the best unproduced "dark" scripts) back in 2016. It caught the eye of Ben Stiller’s production company, Red Hour.
It took years to develop. Apple TV+ eventually gave it a straight-to-series order, and the rest is history.
Season 1 was an absolute masterclass in tension, ending with that legendary cliffhanger where Mark Scout (Adam Scott) screams "She's alive!" right as the screen cuts to black. Season 2, which finally dropped in early 2025, pushed the boundaries even further. We saw Mark and Helly (Britt Lower) making radical choices that fundamentally broke the rules of their existence.
One thing that makes Erickson's writing stand out is the "weird, dark, surreal" humor. He calls himself a fan of the "mystery box" style, but unlike some other shows that get lost in their own riddles, Erickson has claimed he has the whole vision mapped out. He knows how the story of Lumon Industries ends.
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What is Next for Dan Erickson?
As of January 2026, the big question on everyone’s mind is Severance Season 3.
Production is reportedly scheduled to kick off in April 2026 and run through December. If you’ve followed the show’s history, you know they don't rush things. They spent months just on the opening sequence of Season 2. Ben Stiller has mentioned that the high production value means the post-production alone takes another six to nine months.
Expect a potential Season 3 release in mid-to-late 2027.
Beyond the halls of Lumon, Erickson has a new screenplay in the works called Cult Cake. It’s a comedy about a bakery worker who accidentally infiltrates a cult. Honestly? That sounds exactly like something from the mind of the man who gave us the "Music Dance Experience."
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to track the evolution of the Dan Erickson movies and tv shows catalog, here is what you should do:
- Watch "A Sibling Mystery": If you can find it on VOD, watch it. It’s the best way to see how Erickson handles low-budget mystery and character dynamics before he had an Apple budget.
- Follow the Blood List: Erickson’s career started there. If you like his vibe, keep an eye on upcoming scripts featured on the Blood List to find the "next" Severance.
- Rewatch Season 2 for Clues: Erickson has admitted they "play jazz" with the plot sometimes but the endgame is fixed. Watch the scenes involving Jame Eagan and the "Revolving"—the answers are usually hidden in the set design.
Erickson is proof that the "long game" works in Hollywood. It took a decade of office jobs and indie shorts to get to the top, but he finally made it.
Keep an eye on the trades for official Season 3 filming updates starting this April.
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Source References:
- TV Insider - Dan Erickson Credits
- Final Draft - How Severance Changed a Writer's Career
- Variety - Dan Erickson at the Critics' Choice Awards (Jan 2026)
- The Ringer - Interview with Dan Erickson on Season 2
- Collider - Severance Season 3 Production Updates