Ted Lasso Season 3's ongoing delays were caused by massive rewrites and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, if a new report is to be believed.
The behind-the-scenes account of Ted Lasso's protracted production cycle comes via reliable industry news outlet Puck. It alleges that star and series co-creator Jason Sudeikis pushed for the third season's scripts to be rewritten, and then insisted on additional changes (including adjustments to certain character arcs) once filming commenced. Puck's report also claims that the shoot was further disrupted when Chelsea Football Club's home ground Stamford Bridge became temporarily unavailable, after the club's owner, Roman Abramovich, was forced to sell it after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Sudeikis seemingly alluded to Ted Lasso Season 3's alleged production troubles during his acceptance speech at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards, joking that the third batch of episodes will arrive "at some point." This apparent confirmation that Ted Lasso won't be returning to screens as soon as previously anticipated was the only blemish on an otherwise stellar night for the Apple TV+ comedy, which picked up its second Outstanding Comedy Series award. Sudeikis and his co-star Brett Goldstein were also recognized for their performances, as was MJ Delaney for her directing.
How Many Seasons Will Ted Lasso Run For?
Part of the reason why Sudeikis is apparently so fixated on the quality of Ted Lasso Season 3's scripts may be that the third season will supposedly be the show's last. Several members of the Ted Lasso cast and crew have made reference to the Apple TV+ series as only running for three seasons, with the overarching narrative designed to wrap up at that point. Sudeikis' status as an in-demand Hollywood actor is among the reasons listed for Ted Lasso's three season road map, as his busy schedule apparently made it impossible for him to commit to anything more long term.
Should Season 3 indeed prove to be Ted Lasso's final small screen outing, it seems highly likely that the beloved comedy's legacy will live on. A recent crisis at Manchester United is a great example of just how entrenched the show already is in contemporary culture, with players at the club reportedly calling coach Chris Armas "Ted Lasso" as a way of expressing their displeasure with Armas' professional expertise. Like Lasso himself at the start of the series, Armas lacks experience coaching outside North America, although he is a former player and served as head coach of Toronto FC.
Ted Lasso Seasons 1 and 2 are currently streaming on Apple TV+. Season 3 does not yet have a release date.
Source: Puck