It looks like Apple TV+'s popular sports comedy series
"Ted Lasso" is taking major steps towards a greenlight for an upcoming fourth season. Warner Bros. Television has picked up the options on the three original cast members contracted under the UK acting union Equity:
Hannah Waddingham, who plays AFC Richmond owner Rebecca Walton,
Brett Goldstein, who plays hardman Roy Kent and
Jeremy Swift, who plays Director of Football Operations Leslie Higgins.
The studio is now expected to reach out to SAG-AFTRA cast members whose options had expired, which includes
Jason Sudeikis as the titular coach,
Brendan Hunt, who played Coach Beard, and probably
Juno Temple as well.
Phil Dunster (Jamie Tart), has not been picked up, presumably due to a conflict with another series, as he is on both Prime Video's
"The Devil's Hour" and Apple's
"Surface".
Depending on the progress of the early preparations, including budget approval, scheduling the actors and opening the writers room, a 2025 production start is expected. Starting the process for a Season 4 greenlight indicates that Sudeikis is on board for a new installment as the studio would not have proceeded without his consent.
"Saturday Night Live" alum Sudeikis originated the character in NBC Sports videos, and co-created
"Ted Lasso" with Hunt,
Joe Kelly and
Bill Lawrence. The show was originally conceived as a three-season story arc, but Season 3 was not labeled as final, leaving the door open for more seasons, if the right idea came along. And it looks like that has happened.