Hannah Waddingham admits that she and Brett Goldstein thought Ted Lasso would be cancelled after one run
Warning: Contains spoilers for Season 3 of Ted Lasso.
Hit Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso is set to make a comeback for a fourth season, but the news has left fans with mixed feelings.
The heartwarming series follows the loveable American soccer coach Ted (Jason Sudeikis) who is hired to manage the fictional British football team AFC Richmond, leading him to relocate his life across the Atlantic. The previous season ended with Ted finally returning to the US where he's now coaching his son Henry's team.
Annette Badland, a cast member, had previously stated on a 2023 episode of Loose Women that the show would not return after Season 3. However, Warner Bros Television, the studio behind the show, are now contemplating its revival, much to the surprise of fans and seemingly the cast as well.
According to Deadline, the studio has picked up the options on fan favourites Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, and Jeremy Swift, all original cast members under the UK acting union Equity. The next step appears to be reaching out to those signed under SAG-AFTRA, including the show's co-creators and executive producers Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hut, as well as Juno Temple among others, reports the Daily Star.
However, there's uncertainty surrounding Phil Dunster, who portrayed the charming rogue Jamie Tartt, due to his current commitments to Amazon Prime Video's The Devil's Hour and Apple's own, Surface.
Early preparations are also underway to open a writers room with a potential start in early 2025.
Bill Lawrence, co-creator of the hit series Ted Lasso, has always been clear that the show's continuation is entirely dependent on Jason Sudeikis' participation. In a conversation with Collider, he expressed: "Whatever Jason feels like doing and whatever his decision is, we're all down with it."
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"Not only is he the star, he's the head writer, and he's also the dude whose life just has to be completely overhauled and moved to a foreign country with young children. It's a big deal. So, as a fan, if someone's like, 'Oh, it's gonna happen again,' I'll go nuts. As a partner, I'm down for whatever he wants to do."
The reaction to Season 4 news among fans is mixed. A hesitant viewer took to Twitter/X, stating: "Honestly, I'm not sure we need more of the same. Let's hope they bring something fresh, or it's just going to drag on."
Another enthusiast insisted on Sudeikis' return in the lead role: "If Jason Sudeikis is only EP [Exec Producer] and not reprising his role we don't want it," while a sceptical voice chimed in: "Series finale so bad they have to come back for another season to fix it."
Yet, many are thrilled at the prospect of another season, with one fan declaring "Peak television is back". Another lauded the show as "one of the greatest shows of all time", sharing: "You'll laugh, you'll cry, and love all the characters."
