Ben Stiller

Keanu Reeves might well be anyone’s first choice for anything, but he wasn’t Ben Stiller’s.

On Monday, the Severance co-creator revealed to Jimmy Kimmel Live that he actually had somebody specific in mind for a subtle celebrity cameo during the season two premiere in January — and that the Matrix star, who ultimately took the part, ironically wasn’t the one.

The role required a pleasant and docile voice to dub an animated video shown to staffers at the fictional Lumon Industries.

Ben, who executive produces the show and has directed most of it, said he wanted none other than Barack Obama to do it.

“I didn’t ask him in person. I knew someone who knew his lawyer, and his lawyer said, ‘I can relay the request if you write an email’,”

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