Jason Sudeikis has officially rejoined the beloved Apple TV sports series Ted Lasso as the motivational, heartwarming coach of the same name. A report from Variety shares that he is the first amongst the eclectic, ensemble cast to officially board the fourth season at this time.
Sudeikis starred as the former coach of a college football team in Kansas who was tapped to lead a soccer team across the pond in jolly old England despite having never done so before. He was joined by his assistant coach Willis Beard, one of Lasso’s best friends who is played by series writer and co-creator Brendan Hunt. Beard often corrected him and knew more of the English culture and traditions than Ted.
Spoiler alert, this article will touch on key plot details of the show’s three seasons.
Who’s Coming with Jason Sudeikis?
It was reported last August that options were picked up for three cast members of the multiple Primetime Emmy award-winning streaming series. Hannah Waddingham AKA head of Lasso’s soccer team AFC Richmond Rebecca Walton, Brett Goldstein known as the foulmouthed bad boy of soccer Roy Kent, and Jeremy Swift, who played Leslie Higgins- the Director of Football Operations for AFC.
The news all but officially confirmed that the series was receiving a green light although it seems as though not everyone will be making a return flight to Richmond’s luscious grassy field just yet. Phil Dunster, who starred as the reformed soccer star Jamie Tartt, is committed to starring in an untitled HBO comedy alongside Steve Carrell. The series is also being produced by some of the team behind the Apple TV comedy including television veteran Bill Lawrence and Warner Bros’ television division.
Another cast member who appears to not be returning this time around is Lasso’s own son Henry, played by Gus Turner for the first three seasons. Deadline let slip that season 4’s first episode will take place in the Lassos’ hometown of Kansas so Henry may be a big part of the show’s opening storylines.
New Plot Details on Season Four
While Turner was reportedly invited to re-audition for his part, it’s unclear whether he and other supporting cast will be replaced with new actors should they prove to not match what the showrunners and creatives on set have in mind. As Jason Sudeikis and his team are still cranking out the story and scripts for episodes, only a select few official details have been shared.
Star, staff writer, and co-creator Jason Sudeikis released an official statement teasing what diehard fans can look forward to in the new batch of episodes. “We all continue to live in a world where so many factors have conditioned us to ‘look before we leap,” the Saturday Night Live alum shared. “In season four, the folks at AFC Richmond learn to leap before they look, discovering that wherever they land, it’s exactly where they’re meant to be.”
The statement sounds very much like one of Ted’s iconic hallmark sayings and can be interpreted in any number of ways. It does seem to reveal that an unexpected change will befall Richmond. This seems to ring true as Jason Sudeikis recently spoke at length about Lasso’s continuation on the New Heights Podcast.
While on the sports podcast, hosted by former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce and current Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Jason Sudeikis shared an interesting plot detail about his mustachioed, Southern counterpart. Lasso will be coaching an all-woman team this time around.
Fans Are Ready to Believe Again
Ted’s shift to start leading an all-women’s team this time around is an intriguing angle for the series to take. Roy Kent was seen coaching his niece Phoebe’s soccer team in the show’s second season so it’d be a nice role reversal to see Ted lean on his successor for advice this time around.
Fans can definitely use the wise and often witty words of Ted Lasso and his friends at this time. Jack Burditt, a noted writer with credits on 30 Rock and Modern Family, coming aboard the new season as a “co-showrunner” to Jason Sudeikis may just be what viewers need for comfort and escapism.
It’s yet to be determined which of the series’ old favorites will join him and which new faces will be featured. However, fans will certainly wait as long as is needed for the production to be made as best as it can.
