Peacock has treated audiences to a glimpse into the upcoming prequel, Ted, with the release of its initial trailer. The TV show, which is set to premiere on January 11, delves into the earlier life of the anthropomorphic bear in 1993, offering insights into his world before the events of the original Ted and its sequel, Ted 2 (released in 2012 and 2015, respectively).
Ted will consist of seven episodes, all available for streaming at once. The first-look photos released by the streaming platform include scenes featuring Ted alongside his thunder buddy, a teenage John Bennett.
The Ted prequel series is set to explore the aftermath of “Ted the bear’s moment of fame.” Taking place in Framingham, Massachusetts, Ted resides with his best friend, 16-year-old John Bennett, and Bennett’s family, which includes his parents and cousin.
While there is no plot detail for the show, the synopsis provides a hint: John will get in trouble, based on Ted’s lousy influence. However, the bear will prove to be the most loyal friend and will willingly go out of his way to help his companion.
For those familiar with the two Ted films, the bear’s loyalty in the prequel series is in line with their established history of watching out for each other. The show will delve deeper into the lore of their enduring friendship and possibly explore a defining moment of their relationship.
Ted will see Seth MacFarlane reprise his role as the eponymous bear and Max Burkholder as John Bennett. Scott Grimes and Alanna Ubach will play Bennett’s dad and mum respectively, while Giorgia Whigham will star as his cousin.
In addition to his voice acting, MacFarlane resumes multiple roles as the executive producer, showrunner, writer, and director—roles he previously held in the production of the first two films.
With its impending arrival on the platform, Ted will be the latest high-profile show hitting Peacock. It will follow horror sensation Five Nights at Freddy’s which arrived on the platform on October 27 and The Matrix trilogy which released on the platform the month before that.
The Ted prequel series is set to make its debut on Peacock on January 11, 2024.
