Ted Lasso fans officially have something to cheer about.
The beloved sitcom series, which follows Ted (Jason Sudeikis), an American football coach who moves to London after being hired to coach AFC Richmond, officially kicked off production for its fourth season.
Apple TV+ released a first look at stars Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, and Jeremy Swift eating around a dining booth, all looking at each other with a loving expression on their faces. And for the first time, it appears as if the characters are all in the U.S. Not only is that diner as American-looking as they come, but shooting officially began Monday in Kansas City, Missouri.
Last season, Ted said goodbye to England, leaving behind the AFC Richmond team to be with his son, Harry (played by Gus Turner), back in the United States. After a tough season, AFC Richmond finished second in the league, an all-time achievement for the once-struggling football team.
In the final scene, the series showed Ted coaching his son’s youth soccer team, harkening back to the advice he gave Sam (Toheeb Jimoh) in the first season to “be a goldfish,” meaning let go of the past and focus on the present.
This time around, Ted faces one of his hardest challenges yet: coaching a women’s Division II soccer team. To succeed, he may have to throw out everything he has ever learned about the sport and start again.
Production began Monday in Kansas City, Sudeikis’ hometown, with filming eventually moving to London. Along with Sudeikis, the show also sees the return of fan favorites, including Jeremy Swift, Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, and Brendan Hunt.
Over its original three-season run, Ted Lasso won 13 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series twice. It was a breakout hit for Apple TV+, landing during the pandemic at a time when viewers rallied around its earnest, inspirational message.
The Season 3 finale was thought to be the end of the series, but rumors of a fourth season were eventually confirmed in March, nearly two years after the last episode aired.
“As we all continue to live in a world where so many factors have conditioned us to look before we leap, 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,” Sudeikis said, confirming Season 4.
There’s currently no release date for the new season.
