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Seth MacFarlane Revives Ted in a Nostalgic Journey to the 90s

Seth MacFarlane’s iconic character, Ted, is set to return in a new prequel series, extending the Ted franchise to television. This new series, created for Peacock, delves into the early life of the irreverent and beloved teddy bear.

Premise and Setting

Set in 1993, after the opening sequence of the original Ted movie (2012), the series will explore Ted’s early life with John Bennett and his family in Massachusetts. It will portray the dynamic within the Bennett household, including John, his parents, and his cousin Blaire, who is living with them while attending college nearby​​.

Cast and Characters

The series features a talented cast:

  • Alanna Ubach as Susan Bennett, previously named Helen in the Ted movie.
  • Seth MacFarlane resumes his role, providing the voice and motion capture for Ted.
  • Scott Grimes as Matty Bennett, previously named Steve in the Ted movie.
  • Max Burkholder as John Bennett.
  • Giorgia Whigham as Blaire​​.

Production Timeline and Development

The prequel series received a straight-to-series order from Peacock in June 2021. Notably, due to the prequel nature, film stars like Mark Wahlberg, Amanda Seyfried, and Mila Kunis are not expected to reprise their roles. The casting process continued throughout 2022, with filming commencing in August 2022 at the Universal Studios backlot. The first season is slated to have eight episodes​​.

Writing and Episode Structure

Seth MacFarlane himself wrote the first three episodes of the series. The writing team includes Paul Corrigan, Brad Walsh, Dana Gould, Jon Pollack, and Julius Sharpe, who contributed to other episodes. This collaborative effort indicates a diverse range of creative inputs shaping the narrative​​.

Release Date

Fans can look forward to experiencing this new chapter in the Ted saga, as all seven episodes are scheduled to be released on January 11, 2024​​.

The Ted prequel series promises to be a delightful journey into the backstory of one of the most unconventional and endearing characters in recent cinema. With Seth MacFarlane at the helm, the series is poised to offer the same blend of humor and heart that made the original films so popular. Fans eagerly await January 2024 to reunite with Ted and dive into his earlier adventures.