Ted (franchise)
The Ted (stylized as ted) franchise consists of American comedy installments, based on characters created by Seth MacFarlane. The plot centers around the titular teddy bear that magically comes to life, after the child he was gifted to wishes for it on a shooting star. Together, the pair form a friendship that lasts into their adulthood. The films star Seth MacFarlane and Mark Wahlberg as the two best friends, Ted and John Bennett, respectively.
| Ted | |
|---|---|
 Official franchise logo | |
| Created by | Seth MacFarlane |
| Owner | Universal Pictures |
| Years | 2012–present |
| Films and television | |
| Film(s) | |
| Television series | Ted |
The first film was met with generally positive critical reception,[1][2] and was deemed a box office success based on a smaller production budget.[3] The sequel was met with mixed critical reception,[4][5] and less income from ticket sales.[6]
The franchise will continue with a television series set prior to the events of the films, currently in development for a 2023 release via the Peacock streaming service. MacFarlane will reprise his role as Ted Clubber-Lang, in addition to being credited in various creative roles for the series.[7][8]
Film
| Film | U.S. release date |
Director | Screenwriters | Story by | Producers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ted | June 29, 2012 | Seth MacFarlane | Alec Sulkin & Wellesley Wild and Seth MacFarlane |
Seth MacFarlane | Scott Stuber, Seth MacFarlane, John Jacobs and Jason Clark |
| Ted 2 | June 26, 2015 | Alec Sulkin & Wellesley Wild and Seth MacFarlane | |||
Ted (2012)
In 1985 America, a lonely, friendless child named John Bennett wishes that his Christmas gift jumbo teddy bear named Ted, would come to live and be his new best friend. As he makes his wish, a shooting star crosses the sky and his toy gains sentient intelligence. The pair quickly form a friendship like brothers and call their bromance "Thunder Buddies". As the public becomes aware of the reality of Ted's life, he gains a brief celebrity status and fame. Twenty-seven years later, a now foul-mouthed Ted is still John's roommate and greatest friend. John's live-in girlfriend named Lori, grows tired of the constant presence of Ted, as the pair plan to start a family together. Though John wants to marry her, Lori is apprehensive while the best friends remain roommates. Ted attempts to regain control of his destiny and acquires a job at a local grocery store and begins dating his co-worker named Tori-Lynn. The tensions are amplified by John and Ted's regular consumption of beer and weed. Following a series of unfortunate circumstances instigated by Ted, Lori breaks up with John. As he blames Ted for the occurrence, Ted fights to right his wrongs to save his best friend's future. Ted may prove to be the one to give John the intervention he needs, to finally help each other grow up.[9]
Ted 2 (2015)
Life has recently changed drastically for "Thunder Buddies", John and Ted. John is now a bachelor, after newly divorcing Lori, while Ted is a married man after wedding the woman of his dreams Tami-Lynn. When the newlyweds decide to adopt a child, legal problems arise when the state declares Ted as property and not a person. Scrambling for a resolution, the sentient teddy bear seeks for a lawyer to help him prove his ability to care for a child. Together, a young lawyer named Samantha "Sam" Jackson and an esteemed civil-rights attorney named Patrick Meighan, serve as legal counsel on the court case. In the process, the once-heartbroken John overcomes the tragedy of his failed marriage and becomes romantically involved with Sam. Combined in purpose, the group search for a way to salvage Ted and Tami-Lynn's plans for parenthood, and attaining the justice he deserves.[10]
Television series
In June 2021, it was announced that a television series centered around the titular character is in development and will be released as a Peacock exclusive. The show is intended to serve as a prequel to the film series, with Seth MacFarlane in negotiations to reprise the voice of the titular role. MacFarlane will serve as a writer for the project in addition to serving as an executive producer with Erica Huggins.[8]
In April 2022, as principal photography approached, it was revealed that the series plot will be set in 1993 in the years where the "Thunder Buddies", Ted and John, grew through the pains of adolescence as a family. Ted and John live in a working-class home in Boston with the latter's parents, Matty and Susan, and cousin named Blaire. While Ted isn't the best influence, the pair learn that their friendship can overcome anything. Max Burkholder was cast as a young John Bennett. Additionally, Scott Grimes, Alanna Ubach, and Giorgia Whigham will appear in supporting roles as Matty Bennett, Susan Bennet, and Blaire Bennett, respectively.[7][11] MacFarlane will serve in various roles for the series, reprising his role as the voice of Ted from the films, which he developed from an idea that originated in a conversation he had with NBCUniversal content chairwoman Susan Rovner. MacFarlane will also serve as creator, showrunner, writer, and director on the 10-episode series. Paul Corrigan and Brad Walsh will serve as co-showrunners, additional screenwriters, and executive producers. Erica Huggins, Alana Kleiman, and Jason Clark also serve in executive producer roles for the series. The project will be a joint-venture production between Fuzzy Door Productions, Universal Content Productions, and MRC Television. The show is intended to be released as a Peacock Original Series, via streaming exclusively on Peacock.[7][12][13][14] Macfarlane has stated that the tone of the show will be along the lines of the first movie, while stating that it's "a R-rated comedy".[15]
Production was scheduled to begin in June 2022,[16] with principal photography confirmed to have commenced by July of the same year.[15]
Cast and characters
This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in the franchise.
- An empty, dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the film, or that the character's official presence has not yet been confirmed.
- P indicates an appearance in onscreen photographs.
- U indicates an uncredited appearance.
- V indicates a voice-only role.
- Y indicates a younger version of the character.
| Character | Film | Television series | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ted | Ted 2 | Ted | ||
| Ted Clubber-Lang | Seth MacFarlane Zane CowansVY Tara StrongVU |
Seth McFarlane Tara StrongV |
Seth MacFarlaneV | |
| John Bennett | Mark Wahlberg Colton ShiresY Bretton ManleyY |
Mark Wahlberg | Max BurkholderY | |
| Tami-Lynn McCafferty Clubber-Lang | Jessica Barth | |||
| Donny | Giovanni Ribisi | |||
| Frank Stevens | Bill Smitrovich | |||
| Guy | Patrick Warburton | |||
| Sam J. Jones | Himself | |||
| Lori Collins-Bennett | Mila Kunis | |||
| Rex | Joel McHale | |||
| Robert | Aedin Mincks Taylor LautnerP |
|||
| Thomas Murphy | Matt Walsh | |||
| Steve "Matty" Bennett | Ralph Garman | Scott Grimes | ||
| Helen "Susan" Bennett | Alex Borstein | Alanna Ubach | ||
| Jared | Ryan ReynoldsU | |||
| Samantha "Sam" Leslie Jackson | Amanda Seyfried | |||
| Patrick Meighan | Morgan Freeman | |||
| Blaire Bennett | Giorgia Whigham | |||
Additional crew and production details
| Film | Crew/Detail | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composer | Cinematographer | Editor(s) | Production companies |
Distributing company |
Running time | ||
| Ted | Walter Murphy | Michael Barrett | Jeff Freeman | Universal Pictures, Media Rights Capital, Fuzzy Door Productions, Bluegrass Films, Smart Entertainment |
Universal Pictures | 1hr 52min | |
| Ted 2 | Universal Pictures, Media Rights Capital, Fuzzy Door Productions, Bluegrass Films |
1hr 55 min | |||||
| Ted (TV series) |
TBA | TBA | TBA | Universal Television, Fuzzy Door Productions, Universal Content Productions, MRC Television, Peacock Original Series |
Peacock | TBA | |
Reception
Box office and financial performance
| Film | Box office gross | Box office ranking | Home video sales gross |
Total gross income |
Budget | Worldwide total net income |
Ref. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | Other territories | Worldwide | All-time North America |
All-time worldwide |
North America | |||||
| Ted | $218,815,487 | $330,552,828 | $549,368,315 | #171 | #209 | $132,162,871 | $688,179,498 | $50,000,000 | $638,179,498 | [3] |
| Ted 2 | $81,476,385 | $134,387,221 | $215,863,606 | #972 | #689 | $25,210,774 | $242,424,917 | $68,000,000 | $174,424,917 | [6] |
| Totals | $300,291,872 | $464,940,049 | $765,231,921 | x̄ #572 | x̄ #449 | $157,373,645 | $930,604,415 | $118,000,000 | $812,604,415 | |
Critical and public response
| Film | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic | CinemaScore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ted | 69% (221 reviews)[1] | 62/100 (37 reviews)[2] | A-[17] |
| Ted 2 | 44% (209 reviews)[4] | 48/100 (38 reviews)[5] | B+[17] |
| Ted (TV series) | TBA | TBA | TBA |
References
- "Ted". 29 June 2012 – via www.rottentomatoes.com.
- "Ted" – via www.metacritic.com.
- "Ted (2012) - Financial Information". The Numbers.
- "Ted 2". 26 June 2015 – via www.rottentomatoes.com.
- "Ted 2" – via www.metacritic.com.
- "Ted 2 (2015) - Financial Information". The Numbers.
- Goldberg, Leslie (April 13, 2022). "Seth MacFarlane Sets Cast for 'Ted' Prequel Series at Peacock". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- Andreeva, Nellie (June 10, 2021). "'Ted' TV Series From Seth MacFarlane Based On Movie Ordered By Peacock; UCP & MRC Producing". Deadline. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
- Debruge, Peter (June 22, 2012). "Ted". Variety. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
- Foundas, Scott (June 24, 2015). "Film Review: 'Ted 2'". Variety. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
- Petski, Denise (May 20, 2022). "'Ted': Alanna Ubach Joins Seth MacFarlane's Peacock Series Based On Films". Deadline. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- Andreeva, Nellie (April 13, 2022). "'Ted': Giorgia Whigham, Max Burkholder & Scott Grimes Join Seth MacFarlane In Peacock Series Based On Films". Deadline. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- Otterson, Joe (April 13, 2022). "'Ted' Series at Peacock From Seth MacFarlane Sets Main Cast, Adds Co-Showrunners". Variety. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- King, Aiden (April 13, 2022). "'Ted': Seth MacFarlane Series Casts Giorgia Whigham, Max Burkholder, and Scott Grimes". Collider. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- Massoto, Erick (July 5, 2022). "'Ted' Prequel Series Will Tonally Match Hit Movie, Seth MacFarlane Confirms [Exclusive]". Collider. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- Welch, Rebecca (April 19, 2022). "Seth MacFarlane's 'Ted' Series Is a Go on Peacock". Backstage. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- "CinemaScore". CinemaScore. Archived from the original on April 13, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2022.