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Ted Lasso returns: when and what to expect
Apple TV has officially set Ted Lasso Season 4 to arrive in summer 2026, and the streamer accompanied the announcement with the first four images from the new season. The Emmy-winning comedy led by Jason Sudeikis — who also serves as an executive producer — looks poised to continue its mix of warmth, character-driven humor, and surprising emotional depth. But Season 4 already hints at a fresh direction: Ted faces perhaps his biggest professional challenge yet.
New challenge: coaching a women's second-division team
The released photos show Ted Lasso back in Richmond, but not exactly in the role fans last left him. Instead of returning to the same men's squad, he’s taking on coaching duties for a women’s team in the second division. These images suggest the series will lean into contemporary issues — gender in sport, coaching dynamics, and the culture clash between optimism and competitive pressure — while keeping the show’s trademark heart.
Key images and what they reveal
Two of the stills feature Ted alongside a new assistant coach standing near Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt). The assistant is played by Tanya Reynolds, a notable addition to the ensemble. Another image introduces Grant Feeley as Henry, Ted’s son — a role recast for this season — and shows the pair at the Crown & Anchor, the iconic pub owned by Mae (played by Annabel Scholey) in London. A final photo captures Ted and Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham) beside the Richmond jet, hinting at travel and a storyline that begins in Kansas before circling back to London.
Cast, returning faces and new arrivals
Most of the original core cast is back: Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt and Jeremy Swift all return to their roles. New cast members joining Season 4 include Tanya Reynolds, Jude McKern, Fíadh Mac, Rex Hays, Aisling Sharkey, Abby Hern and Grant Feeley. The ensemble expansion suggests the show will widen its world and spotlight fresh interpersonal arcs.
Context and comparisons
Shifting Ted into the world of women's football recalls other media efforts that center marginalized or underrepresented sports stories — films like A League of Their Own or recent series that explore the complexities of women’s sport. For fans of Ted Lasso’s emotional storytelling, this move offers potential to blend social commentary with the series’ optimistic tone. Compared with earlier seasons’ focus on redemption and mental health, Season 4 appears to explore institutional change and community impact.
Behind the scenes and fan reaction
Deadline previously reported that Season 4 opens in Kansas, where Ted ended Season 3, before returning to London — a narrative geography that may let the show contrast American and British football cultures. Fans online have pointed out early excitement for the casting of Tanya Reynolds and curiosity about the recast of Henry. Production is underway, and the cast reunion reassures viewers that the series will maintain continuity even as it stretches into new territory.
"Ted Lasso has always been about human connection more than sports," says film critic Anna Kovacs. "This season’s pivot to coaching a women’s team could deepen the show’s social relevance while preserving its emotional core. If handled well, the new arc will feel both true to the series and refreshingly modern."
Whether Season 4 becomes the show’s boldest chapter or a quieter continuation, the images and casting choices suggest Apple TV aims to keep Ted Lasso both familiar and surprising. Expect laughter, tenderness, and a few curveballs when it lands summer 2026.
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