Amanda Seyfried To Replace, Intensify Mila Kunis As Love Interest In Sequel To 2012 Hit 'Ted'
ByDropping Mila Kunis in favor of Amanda Seyfried ("Mean Girls" and "Dear John") for "Ted 2," the sequel to the 2012 hit comedy "Ted," was a "creative decision" on the part of writer Seth McFarlane, Celebuzz reported. Set to release in June 2015 -- almost exactly three years after the original --, "Ted 2" will feature a new love interest for its protagonist.
At face value, McFarlane's decision makes sense. The first movie's plot was driven by the trouble John's bear, Ted, would unintentionally/intentionally bring to John's relationship with Lori (Mila Kunis). As John was trying to do the right thing, Ted would pull him in the exact wrong direction -- great for the movie and for livening up John's dull existence, but bad for his professional and romantic life. If Kunis was retained in the sequel, Ted would either remain an issue (and we'd get comedic overlap) or he wouldn't and McFarlane would need a completely new plot device to carry the movie.
Thus, if McFarlane wants to continue using Ted as a way to expose John's love life way before it exposes itself, axing Kunis is the right move (though she'll reportedly serve a small role, according to Celebuzz). At the same time, it's difficult to imagine the creator of "Family Guy" and infamous Oscars host turning down an enthusiastic Kunis seeking to reprise her role. Keeping her on would likely make life more difficult, but also perhaps a more interesting sequel. How would she deal with Ted's existence long term? McFarlane is one of those guys whom you believe is just crazy enough to do it, or completely against such high artistic notions because of his own artistic notions. For now, we don't know exactly which way it went for Ted's sequel.
McFarland chose an intriguing, capable lead (especially if she's asked to play straight to Ted and John's antics, which she likely won't). Seyfried's best comedic work came in 2004's "Mean Girls," when she played a spacy, Steve Carrel in "Anchorman" type floozy who claimed she gained foresight into weather already occurring by listening to her breasts. Since then (like her co-star, Rachel McAdams), she's taken on more serious roles to varying success (though she was pretty good in the 2009 sleeper horror-com, "Jennifer's Body"). By the time "Ted 2" releases, however, it will mark her second opportunity to star in a raunchy, adult comedy. The first will reach mass audiences with May's premier of "A Million Way's to Die in the West," another comedy directed by McFarlane. Clearly, she must have performed admirably in the spoof western for her to get a second nod in a McFarlane feature.
If movie precedent holds, Seyfried's role will be the opposite of Kunis' cool but constrained Lori. Rather, she'll be a wildcard -- more of a unique character than Lori -- and perhaps force Ted and John to play it straight more than they did in the original. We've seen this trend play to success and failure in numerous films, including an admirable job by Heather Graham as Felicity Shagwell in "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me." While it was Austin's seduction of Alotta Fagina that caused tension in his relationship with Vanessa Kenzington in the original "Powers," it was Shagwell's undercover bedding of Fat Bastard that threatened her relationship status with the international man of mystery in the sequel.
Just how crazy will McFarlane ask Seyfried to be?