'Ted Lasso' Season 3 Is the ‘End of This Story That We Wanted to Tell’
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The news of feel-good comedy Ted Lasso’s season 3 renewal didn’t come as a surprise to most fans, considering the sweeping success the Apple TV+ show has enjoyed both on the awards circuit and amongst audiences. It became the most-nominated freshman comedy in Emmy Award history with a whopping 20 nods (then won in seven categories), and its second-season debut broke records for Apple. It’s no wonder AFC Richmond is headed back to the pitch.
Starring and co-created by Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso follows the titular American football coach as he’s tapped to manage a British football (as in, soccer) club. While the ridiculous move is first intended as a scheme by the team’s owner to get back at her cheating husband, Ted somehow charms his way through the whole institution. Season 2 dives further into the lives of Lasso, his colleagues, and his team, and how they cope with mental health. After an emotional season 2 finale, here’s what to know about Lasso’s next chapter.
When does Ted Lasso season 3 come out?
The 12-episode third season premieres on Wednesday, March 15 on Apple TV+. New episodes will arrive weekly every Wednesday. The streamer also shared an official teaser to celebrate the announcement.
Ted Lasso was renewed for a third season back in October 2020, long before the second season even premiered. Just months prior, in August, it debuted on the streamer and became Apple’s number-one comedy across all top 50 countries, Deadline reported.
Variety previously reported that the writer’s room for season 3 would begin on September 13, 2021, and production was scheduled to start in January 2022. In a red carpet interview in September 2022, Sam Richardson (who plays Edwin Akufo), said “they're still filming some more” when asked about season 3. So production was apparently still ongoing at the time.
Hold on—will this be the last season?
We hope not, but Sudeikis did have plans for a three-season arc. “The story that’s being told—that three-season arc—is one that I see, know, and understood,” he told Entertainment Weekly in June 2021. “I’m glad that they are willing to pay for those three seasons. As far as what happens after that, who knows? I don’t know.”
Co-creator, writer, and star Brendan Hunt chimed in, saying, “I think we’ve always meant it to be three seasons. I think it would be pretty cool if, in the face of how much everyone likes this show, that we stick to our guns and really just do three seasons.” But he did note that no one on the show expected it to become as big of a hit as it did. That said, he still defers to Sudeikis when it comes to taking Ted Lasso beyond season 3. “I will say that, whatever he decides, I will happily abide.”
On a similar note, executive producer Bill Lawrence is “hopeful there’s more Ted Lasso stories to tell after three seasons.”
Apple also struck up a £500,000 licensing deal with the Premier League that allows for the show to use “archive footage, the Premier League's logos, club kits and even the league trophy,” The Athletic reported in October 2021. It’s unclear, though, whether that partnership will only last for one season or more.
An update finally arrived in June 2022, when actor and co-writer Brett Goldstein (who plays beloved retired footballer Roy Kent) revealed season 3 is being written as the show’s last. “We are writing it like that,” he told Sunday Times. “It was planned as three. Spoiler alert—everyone dies.”
When asked about this at the Emmys in September, Goldstein said the show's fate is in “Jason's hands.” Fresh off an Emmy win, he added,“In theory, we've been writing this like it's the end. But it might not be...who knows? I'll probably get killed if I say anything else.”
Jason, however, also has no idea on whether a fourth season is in the cards. “I don’t know. It’s up to more factors than myself,” he said, per The Wrap. He joked later, “If I knew I wouldn’t tell you.”
When Apple announced the season 3 release date on February 14, it did not specify it would be the last season.
More updates arrived a month later, ahead of the premiere. Sudeikis explained to Deadline, “This is the end of this story that we wanted to tell, that we were hoping to tell, that we loved to tell. The fact that folks will want more and are curious beyond more than what they don’t even know yet—that being season 3—it’s flattering. Maybe by May 31, once all 12 episodes of the season [have been released], they’re like, ‘Man, you know what, we get it, we’re fine. We don’t need anymore, we got it.’ But until that time comes, I will appreciate the curiosity beyond what we’ve come up with so far.”
Hunt, however, clarified: “It’s not necessarily the end of the series. It’s just likely the end of this story because we always saw it as a three-part thing. We never even knew for sure we’d be able to tell all three parts — and suddenly, here we are. So, there will be some type of closure to this beat but closure is not necessarily the end.”
Who’s in the cast?
While Apple hasn’t officially confirmed who will be back for season 3, insiders told The Hollywood Reporter that Hannah Waddingham (Rebecca), Brett Goldstein (Roy), Juno Temple (Keeley), and Hunt (Coach Beard) are negotiating salaries for season 3. And, of course, Sudeikis would pick up the whistle once again.
Other cast members include: Jeremy Swift, Phil Dunster, Nick Mohammed, Anthony Head, Toheeb Jimoh, Cristo Fernandez, Kola Bokinni, Billy Harris, and James Lance.
What will season 3 be about?
Here's the synopsis from Apple:
“The newly-promoted AFC Richmond faces ridicule as media predictions widely peg them as last in the Premier League and Nate (Nick Mohammed), now hailed as the ‘wonder kid,’ has gone to work for Rupert (Anthony Head) at West Ham United. In the wake of Nate’s contentious departure from Richmond, Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) steps up as assistant coach, alongside Beard (Brendan Hunt). Meanwhile, while Ted (Jason Sudeikis) deals with pressures at work, he continues to wrestle with his own personal issues back home, Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham) is focused on defeating Rupert and Keeley (Juno Temple) navigates being the boss of her own PR agency. Things seem to be falling apart both on and off the pitch, but Team Lasso is set to give it their best shot anyway.”
How many episodes will there be?
Season 3 will have 12 episodes, just like the second season did. (That's a bit longer than season 1, which only had 10.) While backstage at the Emmys, Sudeikis noted that the streamer asked for the extra episodes in advance this time around. “They, being Apple, asked for 12 episodes—and this time, ahead of time,” he said. “So, we’ll be doing 12 episodes as of now.”
Can I see a trailer?
Apple shared the official trailer on February 27, featuring a few glimpses at the new season set to “You Can't Always Get What You Want” by The Rolling Stones.
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