Brett Goldstein confirmed after years of speculation that his hit TV series Ted Lasso was ‘heavily inspired’ by The Wizard of Oz.
Responding to extensive fan theories that the Apple TV+ show was a modern retelling of L. Frank Baum’s classic, which has been in the works since the show premiered in 2020, the British actor, 44, stated that “there’s a very a lot of The Wizard of Oz in Ted Lasso.”
“The pinball machine is the one that always says, ‘Ted has to go home. There’s no place like home.’ And then there’s no place like Richmond FC. Yeah, that’s all Wizard of Oz,” he said Entertainment weekly.
Some references to The Wizard of Oz that were spotted by eagle-eyed viewers include the “tie-dye yellow brick road-style shirt” that Goldstein wears, as well as the title character’s (Jason Sudeikis) red sneakers. reminiscent of Dorothy’s ruby slippers.)
Goldstein then revealed which characters on Ted Lasso were intended to portray Dorothy and her companions on her journey to the Emerald City.
The two-time Emmy winner, who plays fictional retired football player Roy Kent, noted: “Ted is Dorothy, Rebecca is the Lion and the Scarecrow is Jamie.”
Brett Goldstein confirmed after years of speculation that his hit TV series Ted Lasso was ‘heavily inspired’ by The Wizard of Oz
“I’m sure this will cause a lot of problems,” he joked.
His comments come just months later Term confirmed that Hannah Waddingham, Jeremy Swift and Brett Goldstein have agreed to return to the hit sitcom for season four.
Warner Brothers, which will produce the show, still needs to secure contracts with creators and stars Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt, who star as the American soccer coaches hired to coach the British soccer players.
Juno Temple, who starred as influencer and marketer Keely Jones, is also reportedly on the list of actors the production wants to involve in any new venture.
Assembling the rest of the team could be relatively simple, as cast members have repeatedly said they would love to reprise their roles if given the opportunity to do so.
The publication reports that the writers have already started to map out what a new season would entail.
At the end of season three, Sudeikis’ Lasso had returned to his son and ex-wife in Kansas, while Hunt’s Coach Beard remained in Britain.
Since season three, Sudeikis has kept a low profile.
Responding to extensive fan theories that the Apple TV+ show was a modern retelling of L. Frank Baum’s classic, which has been in the works since the show premiered in 2020, the British actor, 44, stated that “there’s a very a lot of The Wizard of Oz in Ted Lasso’
The two-time Emmy winner, who plays fictional retired footballer Roy Kent, revealed: “Ted is Dorothy, Rebecca is the Lion and the Scarecrow is Jamie.”
Judy Garland pictured alongside Ray Bolger, Jack Haley and Bert Lahr in costume on the yellow brick road in a scene from the film The Wizard of Oz in 1939
The Saturday Night Live alum has done voice work for the TV series Hit-Monkey as well as the upcoming animated film Hit Pig and The Angry Birds Movie 3.
Waddingham has seen her career expand with roles in the summer hit The Fall Guy starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt.
She also recently received an Emmy nomination for her voice work as the goddess Deliria in the animated film Krapopolis.
“Never in a million years did I think my very first foray into voiceover work would land me an Emmy nomination!!!.” she wrote on social media. I love playing this wicked, satisfying, hilarious minxy goddess Deliria in @krapopollis on the @fox network. Thank you so much for recognizing me among these, honestly, voice-over titans! Xx.’
Goldstein, one of the writers and executive producers of Ted Lasso, is also one of the creative forces behind the Emmy-nominated Shrinking, starring Jason Segal and Harrison Ford.