Ted Lasso Season 4: What’s next for Coach Lasso and the team

The excitement around Ted Lasso is palpable, and Apple TV+ has confirmed that the beloved series will return for a fourth season. The buzz surrounding this announcement began in August last year when Deadline reported that Warner Bros. Television had secured options for three original cast members. 

Creator and star Jason Sudeikis, who first brought the character of Coach Ted Lasso to life for an NBC ad campaign in 2013, confirmed his return on the New Heights podcast, expressing his excitement about the upcoming season.

Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, and Jeremy Swift are also expected to return. Waddingham, who plays the fierce yet vulnerable Rebecca Walton, has had an incredible character arc, evolving from an antagonist to a vital ally of football club AFC Richmond. Goldstein, who also shines in Shrinking Season 2, will reprise his role as Roy Kent, the gruff retired footballer turned assistant coach. Swift will return as Leslie Higgins, the steadfast director of football operations. 

Phil Dunster, who plays Jamie Tartt, was initially not included in the reports due to scheduling conflicts with another project. He has since signed on for a regular role in a new HBO comedy opposite Steve Carell, which is co-created by Ted Lasso executive producer Bill Lawrence. 

Juno Temple, who portrays Keeley Jones, and Brendan Hunt, who plays Coach Beard, are also expected to return. Hunt, however, has already been involved in the writers’ room alongside Sudeikis and Goldstein.

Season 4 will likely pick up where the third season left off, with Lasso returning to Kansas at the end of the last season. From there, he’ll make his way back to AFC Richmond. 

Sudeikis shared that the upcoming season will focus on the idea of “leap before you look,” encouraging the characters to embrace the unknown and trust that wherever they land, it will be where they are meant to be. This theme signals that the new season will delve into new opportunities, challenges, and growth for the beloved characters.

Casting for new roles is expected to begin soon, with production slated to start in July. A key development for the show is Ted’s new role as a coach for a women’s soccer team. This was confirmed by Sudeikis on the New Heights sports podcast, offering a fresh direction for the series and a new challenge for the titular coach. This new chapter will bring exciting dynamics and further explore the world of soccer, but there’s also room for potential cameos from real-life football stars.

If Lasso returns to the United Kingdom, a cameo from Arsenal’s Leah Williamson would be a fantastic addition, especially since she has been spotted with Sudeikis and the cast in recent times. This would also be the perfect opportunity to bridge the gap between television and the world of professional soccer. 

On the other hand, if Lasso stays in the U.S., the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) could provide a great avenue for storytelling. The league has been growing in popularity, and its inclusion would allow Ted Lasso to shine a light on the incredible talent within the league while bringing fresh storylines to the show.

With the writers’ room already hard at work, the team behind the show is led by Sudeikis and new co-showrunner Jack Burditt. Alongside returning producers like Joe Kelly, Jane Becker, and Jamie Lee, the writers are working to ensure that the show stays true to its heart and humour while taking the series in exciting new directions. Lawrence, who developed the series with Sudeikis, continues to serve as a non-writing executive producer.

Production for the new season is set to start in July, with the release date still to be confirmed. As fans eagerly await the new season, it’s clear that Ted Lasso Season 4 will bring new challenges, fresh faces, and deeper insights into the world of soccer, all while keeping the charm and humour that made the show a global hit.