Ted Creator Gives Update on Prequel Series under Development for Peacock

Seth MacFarlane, the director, writer, and co-producer of the comedy movie Ted, updated viewers on the prequel series currently being developed at Peacock.

In the recent PGA Produced By press conference via The Wrap, MacFarlane shared the major challenge he faced while creating the prequel series and gave an update on its production period.

The director shared that a big struggle for the prequel was that it would not have Mark Wahlberg playing the titular, always-disappointed adult John Bennett. The series will take viewers on a journey of 16-year-old John and the experiences that made him an underachiever.

While Wahlberg played a huge role in the movie, especially without Ted being CGI-ed, the prequel demanded a new John. The movie’s success wasn’t only dependent on the foul-mouth bear (voiced by MacFarlane) but also Wahlberg.

“For me, the challenge was really how does this character exist in a world without Mark Wahlberg? That was really a two-hander. The movie was a real feat of visual effects work for the artists who did it. But also, if you look at the raw footage before the bear was placed into it, a lot of it was Mark.”

He then talked about the production aspect of the series. As Ted heavily depends on the stuffed CGI teddy bear, the post-production team does a major chunk of heavy work.

The final line-up for the prequel was only reported in April this year. According to MacFarlane, even if the filming wraps in a few months, the production could take anywhere around six to eight months.

“You can move as fast as you want in production, and you’re still sort of at the mercy of the six, eight months, however long it takes for the CGI to be completed.”

Meanwhile, Max Burkholder (Parenthood) will essay the lead role of 16-year-old John Bennett. As for the bear, MacFarlane will be reprising his part of the witty but foul-mouthed Ted.

About Ted

When John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) was a child, he wished that his favourite teddy bear, Ted (Seth MacFarlane), would come to life. Ted is still John’s constant companion thirty years later, to to the dismay of Lori (Mila Kunis), John’s fiancée. Though Lori is irritated by the couple’s constant indulgence of beer and pot, she isn’t the one who is most unhappy with John; it may take the involvement of John’s childhood toy to finally help him grow up.

News Source: TheWrap