Apple TV+ finally made it official this week: AFC Richmond is lacing up for a fourth season, and the internet responded the way it always does when Ted Lasso news drops — with equal parts screaming, skepticism, and immediate rewatch of the "Rainbow" episode.
The show that once wrapped up so neatly in Season 3 is now un-retiring itself, and nobody is more surprised than the fans who cried through that finale.
Jason Sudeikis is returning as the mustachioed optimist, but the bigger question is who's coming with him.
Sources close to production hint that the writers' room has been quietly mapping out a season that splits time between Kansas and London, which means we could finally see Ted's Midwest life in full — and possibly some awkward run-ins with ex-wife Michelle.
The show has always been a sneaky family drama dressed in a tracksuit.
Hannah Waddingham has been booked and busy between "The Fall Guy," her Emmy hosting gigs, and basically every red carpet on two continents, so her return isn't a lock.
If Rebecca Welton doesn't come back, the fandom will riot in a way that makes the Nate-the-villain backlash look like a polite disagreement over biscuits.
Speaking of Nate — Nick Mohammed's redemption arc ended on such a warm note that fans are split on whether Season 4 should even touch him again.
Some want the full Diamond Dogs reunion; others argue the story closed the book perfectly and reopening it risks the show's legacy.
That tension is exactly why this season is going to be a ratings monster either way.
What we do know: production is eyeing a late 2025 start, which puts a premiere somewhere in 2026.
That's a long wait for a show that already gave us three perfect closing montages, and it gives the cast plenty of time to get snatched by other projects.
Brett Goldstein, in particular, has become one of Hollywood's most in-demand writers, so his involvement behind the scenes may matter more than his on-screen Roy Kent growl.
The real gamble here isn't whether fans will watch — they absolutely will.
It's whether a show built on "believe" can convince us it has one more story worth telling without tarnishing the ending we already grieved.
The rest of us will be refreshing casting announcements like it's transfer deadline day. **Our take:** Reviving a beloved show is always a dance with nostalgia, and Ted Lasso has more goodwill banked than almost any series of its era.
If Sudeikis and company treat Season 4 as a bonus chapter rather than a victory lap, it could be the rare comeback that actually earns its place.
Final Thoughts
If not, well — we'll always have the dart scene.