Brett Goldstein confirmed that his hit TV series, Ted Lasso, was ‘heavily inspired’ by The Wizard of Oz after years of speculation.
In response to elaborate fan theories that the Apple TV+ show was a modern retelling of L. Frank Baum’s classic, which have been brewing since the show’s premiere in 2020, the British actor, 44, stated that ‘there’s loads and loads of The Wizard of Oz in Ted Lasso.’
‘The pinball machine is the one that’s always “Ted has to go home. There’s no place like home.” And then, there’s no place like Richmond F.C. Yes, that’s all Wizard of Oz,’ he told Entertainment Weekly.
Some references to The Wizard of Oz, which were caught by eagle-eyed viewers, include the ‘tie-dye yellow brick road-esque shirt’ that Goldstein wears as well as the title character (Jason Sudeikis)’s red sneakers ( which are reminiscent of Dorothy’s ruby slippers.)
Goldstein went on to reveal which characters on Ted Lasso were meant to portray Dorothy and her companions on her journey to the Emerald City.
The two-time Emmy winner, who portrays the fictional, retired football player Roy Kent, noted: ‘Ted is Dorothy, Rebecca’s the Lion, and the Scarecrow is Jamie.’
Brett Goldstein confirmed that his hit TV series, Ted Lasso, was ‘heavily inspired’ by The Wizard of Oz after years of speculation
‘I’m sure this is going to cause a lot of trouble,’ he joked.
His remarks come just months after Deadline 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 US Football coaches hired to coach the British footballers.
Juno Temple, who starred as influencer and marketer Keely Jones, is also reportedly on the list of actors the production wants to include in any new endeavor.
Putting together the rest of the team could be relatively easy, as cast members have repeatedly said they would like to reprise their roles, given the opportunity to do so.
The publication reports that the writers have already begun work plotting 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 the UK.
Since wrapping season three, Sudeikis has kept a low profile.
In response to elaborate fan theories that the Apple TV+ show was a modern retelling of of L. Frank Baum’s classic, which have been brewing since the show’s premiere in 2020, the British actor, 44, stated that ‘there’s loads and loads of The Wizard of Oz in Ted Lasso’
The two-time Emmy winner, who portrays the fictional, retired football player Roy Kent, revealed: ‘Ted is Dorothy, Rebecca’s 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 been doing voice work on the TV series Hit-Monkey, and on the upcoming animated Hit Pig and The Angry Birds Movie 3.
Waddingham has seen her career expand with roles in the summer hit The Fall Guy with Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt.
She also received a recent Emmy nomination for her voice work as the goddess Deliria on the animated Krapopolis.
‘Never in a million years did I think my first ever foray into voiceover work would bring me to an Emmy nomination!!!.’ she wrote on social media. I love playing this vile, satisfying, hilarious, minxy goddess Deliria in @krapopollis on the @fox network. Thank you so much for recognizing me amongst these, quite frankly, voiceover titans! Xx.’
Goldstein, who was one of the writers and executive producers on Ted Lasso, is also one of the creative forces behind the Emmy nominated Shrinking, starring Jason Segal and Harrison Ford.