Ted Lasso breakout star Brett Goldstein’s new role will make the wait to see whether Ted Lasso season 4 happens a little easier. The Ted Lasso season 3 ending neatly tied up the beloved Apple TV+ series starring Jason Sudeikis in the titular role, as AFC Richmond vies for victory in the Premier League. Throughout the final season, the series skillfully navigates multiple storylines, showcasing the development of key characters such as Ted, Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham), Roy Kent (Goldstein), Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster), Keeley Jones (Juno Temple), and Nathan Shelley (Nick Mohammed).
Despite its huge success, the fate and possibility of Ted Lasso season 4 remains uncertain. The writers and creators wanted to go out on a high note, having only ever planned out a three-season arc for the beloved show. Still, it’s a shame – Ted Lasso filled a niche on television held by no other show, offering positive, realistic character development and character accountability virtually never seen in current TV shows. The characters were fully lived-in and beloved, with few of them being as beloved as curmudgeonly ex-soccer star Roy Kent. Thankfully, actor Brett Goldstein has another show lined up that could be the spiritual successor to Ted Lasso.
Brett Goldstein will guest star in season 2 of Shrinking. After his success as a writer on Ted Lasso, Goldstein co-created the Apple TV+ comedy-drama series with Bill Lawrence and Jason Segel, but he didn’t appear in the first season. Shrinking follows Jimmy Johns (Jason Segel), a therapist grieving the loss of his wife while juggling his responsibilities as a therapist, a father, and more. The series costars Hollywood veteran Harrison Ford, whose performance in Shrinking has been widely praised by critics and viewers.
Ted Lasso season 3 ended with the eponymous Ted officially leaving AFC Richmond, Rebecca deciding to stay and maintain majority ownership, giving the rest to the fans, and Roy being appointed the new head coach. The Ted Lasso season 4 uncertainty, however, only makes this ending feel less satisfying. It also leaves fans confused, frustrated, and impatient. While everyone waits to see what happens with Ted Lasso season 4, Brett Goldstein guest starring in Shrinking season 2 is an exciting update. His dry, sardonic humor will be a valuable addition to the hybrid tone of the show.
In a way, it was inevitable for Goldstein to guest star on Shrinking. Not only did he co-create the show, but he is also a fan favorite for Apple TV+. Indeed, it is impossible to believe that Brett Goldstein almost didn’t play Roy Kent in Ted Lasso. Initially, he was meant to serve as an executive story editor and writer in season 1, and when he was later eyeballed for the cast, it was initially to play Leslie Higgins (eventually played by Jeremy Swift).
Nonetheless, as history played out, Goldstein played Roy Kent and became immensely popular over the show’s three seasons as the show became a massive hit. In fact, Ted Lasso set a major 2023 streaming record, amassing a total of 16.9 billion minutes of watch time. This constituted more viewership than any other original streaming series in 2023, even though Apple TV+ has fewer subscribers than its competitors like Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+. Given this, Goldstein’s guest role in Shrinking was inescapable and is bound to be well-received, even if Ted Lasso season 4 never happens.
