Jason Sudeikis almost walked away Ted Lasso after season 3, despite being offered $1 million per episode.
In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter Posted on Tuesday (July 21), the Emmy-winning actor revealed that money was never the reason he agreed to return for season 4.
After the Season 3 finale in 2023, Sudeikis believed that Ted’s story had reached its natural conclusion. After all, the beloved coach had returned to Kansas to be with his son, while the journeys of Richmond’s other central characters were also over.
“It wasn’t a negotiating tactic,” Sudeikis, 50, said. “The story was told. Ted went home to be with his son. I wasn’t going to let Ted uproot their lives to justify the truckload of money. It didn’t make any sense to me.”
Despite his initial reluctance, the SNL The former student finally found a reason to revisit the character: Ted’s refreshing and positive outlook on life.
“It’s infectious to play a character who sees the best in people and isn’t angry at the world for all its weaknesses and tyrants and shadows,” Sudeikis said. “It’s not like I’m Daniel Day-Lewis, but it was good to live in that – to have that running through your brain and your body all day. It still does.”
Co-creator Brendan Hunt previously revealed the story had moved forward three years, meaning a lot had changed since viewers last visited AFC Richmond.
The long-awaited fourth season premieres August 5 on Apple TV+ after a two-year hiatus.
