After months of rumbling, chatter, and speculation, Apple has made it official today: Ted Lasso, Apple TV+’s first big hit, will return for a fourth season. Jason Sudeikis, the show’s star and executive producer, has signed on to return as the American football coach turned European football coach. There’s no word yet on who else from the cast will be returning, but a quote from Sudeikis indicates that AFC Richmond will remain the show’s focus, even though the third season ended with Lasso leaving the team and returning to America in what felt like a pretty clear series finale.
“As we all continue to live in a world where so many factors have conditioned us to ‘look before we leap,'” Sudeikis says in the press release. “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.”
Ted Lasso, of course, is one of the most acclaimed and beloved TV shows of the last decade. It became a word-of-mouth hit after its launch in the summer of 2020, winning audiences over with its abundant positivity during the darkest days of the pandemic, and putting Apple TV+ on the map amid the explosion of streaming services. That first season was nominated for 20 Emmys, setting a record for first-season comedies; it won three acting Emmys that year and the first of two consecutive Emmys for Outstanding Comedy Series. Its third season received a more muted critical response, but still scored a number of Emmy nominations. That was also believed to be the show’s final season, although it’s been strongly rumored (and often remarked upon by cast members) that a return was a distinct possibility.
Joining the show as an executive producer for Season 4 is Jack Burditt, who won Emmys writing for Frasier and 30 Rock, created the long-running Tim Allen sitcom Last Man Standing, and has written for shows like Modern Family, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Mindy Project, Mad About You, and many more. Brett Goldstein, who plays the beloved character Roy Kent, will continue serving as a writer and executive producer, although it hasn’t been revealed if he’ll return as Kent. Leanne Bowen will also return as a writer and executive producer, with Sara Walker and Phoebe Walsh joining as writers and producers. Sitcom pro Bill Lawrence will continue to executive produce.
In another quote in the press release, Apple TV+ head of programming Matt Cherniss touts the show’s success. “Ted Lasso has been nothing short of a juggernaut, inspiring a passionate fanbase all over the world, and delivering endless joy and laughter, all while spreading kindness, compassion and unwavering belief,” Cherniss says. “Everyone at Apple is thrilled to be continuing our collaboration with Jason and the brilliant creative minds behind this show.”
There’s no timeline for the show’s return, and no information on who else from the show’s cast will return. You better believe we’ll be hearing a lot more about this return in the months to come.
