SZA’s “Drive” video from 2024 is a vibe—and Ben Stiller’s starring role almost went to John Cena. On the Severance podcast, SZA spilled how she shut that down, making sure her vision with Stiller came to life. Here’s the fun story behind it.
SZA’s Stiller Obsession
“I can’t thank you enough—I can’t believe you said yes,” SZA told Stiller. She admitted the team pushed for Cena: “They tried to get me to concede to John Cena, and I was like, ‘No.’” She’s got love for Cena—“Shoutout to fine ass John Cena”—but it had to be Stiller. “I need my Ben, please,” she insisted. “They said, ‘It’s too far-fetched, it’ll never happen.’ I was like, ‘Well, I can’t see it any other way.’” And boom—Stiller said yes. Full episode’s linked below!
The Video Nod
In “Drive,” Stiller lip-syncs SZA’s soulful track while cruising at night. When the lyrics hit deep, he closes his eyes and swerves—classic drama. It’s a callback to his 2003 Jack Johnson “Taylor” video, another lip-sync gem. No wonder SZA wouldn’t budge—Stiller was the vibe.
Severance Spark
Their bond started over Severance, the Apple TV hit Stiller co-directs. SZA fangirled hard online: “I really need a new season right the fuck now.” Stiller replied, “Ok ok got it.” Season 2 just wrapped in March 2025, and SZA’s podcast chat with him sealed the full-circle moment.
