Seth MacFarlane on Ted: the future of a third season or film

Seth MacFarlane, the creative force behind the Ted franchise, recently said he’d be open to making a third season of Ted or even a new movie. However, both projects would depend on Peacock’s financial backing, since the streaming service is home to the series.

The origins of Ted

Ted began its journey in 2012 as a live-action comedy film starring Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis. The movie, which centers on a talking teddy bear, became a major hit and spawned a sequel in 2015, this time with Wahlberg and Amanda Seyfried. Both films have since earned cult status among comedy fans and are now iconic in the genre.

The TV series and its success

In 2024, Ted was adapted for television with the launch of the Ted series on Peacock. The show continues the adventures of the teddy bear. In an interesting twist, the younger version of Wahlberg’s character is played by Max Burkholder. The first season quickly became a record-breaker, and the second season, which arrived in March 2026, logged more than 1.2 billion minutes watched within a month.

MacFarlane’s plans for the future

During a panel at Deadline Contenders TV, MacFarlane said there are no concrete plans for a third season yet. He pointed to the high production costs and Universal and Peacock’s hesitation to invest in a follow-up as reasons for the delay. “We painted ourselves into a corner,” he said about the end of season 2, “but there’s always a way to keep going.”

While Ted’s future remains uncertain, MacFarlane is also working on a previously announced animated series set in the same universe, featuring the original cast. He seems optimistic about where that new series could go.

The future of Ted, whether as a third season or a new film, now rests with Peacock and its willingness to invest in the continuation of this popular franchise. MacFarlane’s enthusiasm, and the team’s willingness to keep going, leave the door open for more adventures with the iconic teddy bear.