A politically (very) incorrect teddy bear is in “Ted”. While a prequel series is coming to screens soon, the film will soon leave the Prime Video catalog.
In 2012, spectators discovered Ted in theaters, a comedy directed and carried by Seth MacFarlane. Contrary to what the poster suggested, it was not at all a children’s film but a very schooly production like the Americans know how to do.
It stars John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg). When he was younger, he wished that his Christmas teddy bear would come to life and become his best friend for life. Almost 30 years later, the story no longer really has the feel of a Christmas story. Ted’s omnipresence alongside John weighs heavily on his personal and professional life.
A huge success but…
Ted is a hit in theaters, so much so that Universal immediately begins work on the second part. But between the release of the first and second films, Seth MacFarlane is in turmoil.
A production company files a complaint against the director and his team for copyright infringement, accusing them of having copied “Charlie The Abusive Teddy Bear” into their web series, which also features a teddy bear that is a bit too vulgar. The legal battle lasted several months and the company eventually withdrew its complaint.
In the meantime, Ted 2 – still carried by Wahlberg and McFarlane – was released in cinemas (we are in 2015). And it’s a cold shower, since this sequel does not meet the same success as the first part.
With figures below expectations, less good reviews and legal proceedings which gave them bad press, Universal decided not to continue the adventure of the “adorable” little bear.
Ted: a return in another form
But that was until 2021. That year, the studios announced the return of Ted. Not a Ted 3 but a series, in prequel form. The action takes place in the 90s, as John begins his adventure with his fluffy best friend. Exit Wahlberg, it was the young Max Burkholder who was chosen to lead the project, of which here is the official synopsis:
In 1993, Ted the bear lives in a working-class neighborhood in Boston, with his best friend, 16-year-old John Bennett, his parents and his cousin. Ted may not be the best influence on John, but at the end of the day, he’s willing to take any risk to help his friend and family.
The Ted series has been available in the United States since January 11 on the Peacock platform. With a rating of 8/10 on IMDB, it seems to have hit the mark with fans. It remains to be seen whether it will one day be available in France, and, if so, on which streaming platform.
Ted leaves the Prime Video catalog on February 15.