IS TED LASSO RETURNING TO RICHMOND FOR SERIES 4?
PHOTO SPECIAL – DOWN MEMORY LANE FILMING WITH TED LASSO IN RICHMOND (Photos by Stuart Higgins)
A major US website which specialises in breaking exclusive Hollywood news called Deadline has ignited global speculation and excitement overnight that the Apple TV+ award-winning series Ted Lasso, which was filmed in Richmond, Twickenham and St Margaret’s may be returning for a Series Four.
The well-respected website Deadline claims that the series maker Warner Bros. Television has ‘picked up the options’ for three of the original British stars, Hannah Waddingham, who played the owner of AFC Richmond Rebecca Welton, Brett Goldstein, who played tough guy Roy Kent and Jeremy Swift, who played Director of Football Operations, Leslie Higgins.
This was the website’s headline, posted late last night: ‘Ted Lasso’ Heads Toward Season 4 Greenlight With Options Pickup For 3 Core Cast Members.”
According to Deadline once the three British stars are secured the film studio will ‘reach out’ to other Ted Lasso cast members, whose series contracts had expired, to negotiate new big money deals. These include co-writer and creator Brendan Hunt, who played Coach Beard and another British actress Juno Temple who played PR guru Keeley Jones.
The website claims that the option to include Phil Dunster, who played AFC Richmond striker has ‘not been picked up’ possibly because of a conflict with two other series on Prime Video. It says it is unclear which other stars may be approached about Series 4;
“The cast have all said repeatedly that they would be happy to reprise their roles if an opportunity arises. Many would likely pop in for guest appearances,” claims the website’s unconfirmed report.
Despite the wave of excitement fans should treat the report with a degree of scepticism given that so many of the cast have moved on to other longer term projects and established themselves in their own right on the back of their global Ted Lasso fame. The last series of the 34 episodes also received critical and negative reviews.
“While the outreach to the cast is underway, early preparations are also being made to open a writers room. If all elements come together, we hear production on a fourth season is eyeing an early 2025 start.”
The website said representatives of Warner Bros and Apple TV+ declined comment.
Back in January, Warner Bros. TV CEO Channing Dungey told the magazine Variety: “I mean, you watched the finale, there’s a little bit of a door that could be kicked back open if need be. I wouldn’t put the period on the end of that sentence just yet. There is still a lot of love for Ted Lasso. And I think that there still is a lot of enthusiasm on the part of Apple for Ted Lasso’ Should the opportunity arise, we’d be excited to jump back in to making more…. There are always conversations that are ongoing, just nothing that’s official.”
Teddington Town contacted West London Film Studios where much of the series was filmed and an official said no-one had been in contact. The football scenes were filmed at Hayes and Yeading United FC which is just across the road.
Retailers around Richmond Green who had been kept in touch about the filming schedule have not been contacted but would greet a Ted Lasso return with open arms given the business boost it brought to the area during filming and from tourists from all over the world. There are even Ted Lasso walking tours.
Deadline said: “Starting the process for a Season 4 greenlight indicates that the main Ted Lasso driving force on and off-screen, Sudeikis, is on board for a new instalment as the studio would not have proceeded without his consent.
“The fate of Ted Lasso has always hinged on Sudeikis, who’d originated the character in NBC Sports videos. While being open that they would love to extend Ted Lasso, one of the biggest and most acclaimed comedies of the past decade, Apple and Warner Bros. executives have made it clear that it would be up to Sudeikis whether the show would continue.”
Sudeikis, who created the show with Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly and Bill Lawrence, had originally written the comedy as a three-season story stuck but never shut the door to do another series.
The website added: “With its uplifting tone and a good-natured, eternal optimist lead character, Ted Lasso was the perfect show to launch at the height of the pandemic in August 2020. The comedy became an instant global hit and Apple’s signature and most-watched ever original series.
“n addition to its immense popularity that catapulted it into the pop culture zeitgeist, Ted Lasso earned 13 Emmy Awards during its original three-season run, including two back-to-back Outstanding Comedy Series trophies and acting wins for Sudeikis (2), Goldstein (2), who is also a writer-producer on the show, and Waddingham.
“The May 2023 Season 3 finale saw Keeley and Rebecca potentially partnering for a new venture, AFC Richmond Women’s Team, with all the main characters getting a happy ending, including Ted, last seen coaching his son on a soccer field in Kansas.”
