Matt Damon Says He Turned Down Lead Role in Ted
Damon told GQ he laughed harder reading the Ted script than any other and praised Mark Wahlberg's performance in the part.
Matt Damon said he passed on the lead role in Ted, telling GQ that he overthought the decision and talked himself out of it. The interview was reported by joblo.com.
Damon said he laughed harder reading the Ted script than any other script he had read, and that he read parts of it aloud to friends at dinner.
He also noted that Ted shot in Boston, which would have let him spend about six months at home.
Damon said the right actor got the part and praised Mark Wahlberg's performance. Ted was released in 2012 and follows John Bennett, whose childhood wish brings his teddy bear Ted to life. A sequel followed in 2015, and a prequel TV series ran for two seasons starting in 2024.
An animated Ted series bringing back Wahlberg as the voice of John premieres on Peacock on December 17.
Quick answers
Did Matt Damon turn down a role in Ted?
Yes. Damon told GQ he passed on the lead role in Ted, saying he overthought the decision and talked himself out of it.
Who played the lead in Ted instead?
Mark Wahlberg played John Bennett. Damon said the right actor got the part and praised Wahlberg's performance.
When does the animated Ted series premiere?
The animated Ted series, with Mark Wahlberg returning as the voice of John, premieres on Peacock on December 17.