Ted Lasso FIFA 23 tease won’t make the show’s off the field issues go away
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Ted Lasso is a brilliant show. I love it, you love it, many people love it. It was the uplifting TV series we all needed during the difficult days of 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic forced us to take shelter in our own homes.
While the multi-award-winning Apple TV Plus show is still one of the biggest TV hits of modern times, it’s not immune to trouble off the pitch, especially during the development of Ted Lasso Season 3.
That’s why the recent teasing that Ted Lasso and AFC Richmond may be coming to FIFA 23 feels like a diversion tactic.
Yesterday (September 20), the official Ted Lasso Twitter account hinted that the fans’ favorite soccer coach would be included in the latest installment of EA’s long-running soccer franchise. The tweet suggested that in the near future Ted and his company would arrive in a football-based video game – the “Watch Out, Mario!” tag gave that away. But it was a reply from the official FIFA Twitter account that pretty much confirmed the arrival of Ted and AFC Richmond in the upcoming match; FIFA’s social media team simply follows the eyes emoji:
Bringing Ted, his fellow staffers and the AFC Richmond first team to FIFA is a logical and intriguing move. It is high time that the Apple TV Plus series is recognized for its worldwide phenomenon status in other sectors. With EA ending their licensing deal with FIFA – the pair failed to agree on an extension of their 30-year partnership – once their current deal expires, now is the perfect time to pit Richmond against real clubs in the world’s biggest football club game franchise as well.
However, the plague feels like it’s more than just a coincidence. Okay, FIFA 23 is less than a week after release (at the time of writing), with the football title launching on Tuesday, September 27. A hint to Ted and Richmond’s arrival a week before the game is out could then simply be a marketing strategy to generate interest in the game and the show before the latter’s final season arrives.
However, there’s no denying that Ted Lasso’s possible appearance in FIFA 23 is more than mere coincidence. After all, it comes just days after a report claimed there were major problems developing the show’s third season.
According to news channel puck (opens in new tab)Ted Lasso Season 3 has been plagued by — to use football-based terminology — boardroom and management issues. The report suggested that significant script rewrites, character shifts, lost filming days and issues with filming at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium have resulted in an endless cycle of stop-start production that begins to appease the show’s cast and crew. The cast of Ted Lasso is supposedly hired for the series until it’s completed, meaning they won’t be able to pursue other projects or acting opportunities until production is complete.
Production costs are also reportedly starting to cause problems. A source told Puck that Ted Lasso’s third season was already 20 to 30 percent over budget, leaving Apple and Warner Bros. Television struggled over who would cough up the money to allow filming – and the series’ long post-production phase. be completed.
The lack of clarity on Ted Lasso season 3’s wrap date also means there hasn’t been a release date yet, and that’s a big deal for Apple. Ted Lasso is the crown jewel in its streaming back catalog, and the longer fans have to wait for the third and possibly final season, the more likely they’ll get frustrated and turn to Netflix shows, Prime Video series, and deals on other platforms. for their TV fix.
This is the first time in three years that a season of Ted Lasso isn’t launching on Apple TV Plus either – seasons 1 and 2 are due out in August 2020 and July 2021 respectively. And since the show’s cast isn’t sure when season 3 will be released – co-writer and lead actor Jason Sudeikis recently told reporters (as described by Puck) that it will arrive “at some point” – there’s not much faith in a launch date announced any time soon.
On September 13, things looked bright for Ted Lasso, with the series winning multiple gongs at the 2022 Primetime Emmys. However, Puck’s report has certainly rocked the ship, and it seems there’s an underlying lack of harmony. originates within the Ted Lasso camp. At least if you believe the speculation.
So all this makes the FIFA 23 tease of Ted Lasso seem like a way to put a positive spin on the show after a few rough days. From a cynic’s perspective, it’s a classic marketing ploy or PR stunt to distract from negative publicity.
Of course, the tease could be just that: a casual hint at characters from a hit TV show making their debut in an equally popular video game series. It’s possible that this announcement would always be made at this time of year, with the imminent release of FIFA 23.
Still, it all feels a bit serendipitous. This is the first major test that Ted Lasso has really taken when it comes to receiving negative press. The likely confirmation that Ted and his company are coming to FIFA is, in our view, more than coincidental.
For more Apple TV Plus-based content, check out our Apple TV Plus review or read about the best movies available on the streamer.