Why Did ‘Ted Lasso’ Recast Original Cast Member in Season 4? Surprise Switch Explained

Season 4 of Ted Lasso looks a little different after the show recast an original cast member.

The hit Apple TV series, which returned on Wednesday, August 5, reintroduced Ted’s (Jason Sudeikis) son, Henry. Grant Feely took over the role that was originated by Gus Turner in the first three seasons.

Deadline initially broke the news in March 2025. According to the outlet, Henry was meant to look older as he developed athletic skills on screen. This led to a recasting — although Deadline reported that Turner, 12, was invited to audition for the role in season 4.

Turner for his part, hasn’t addressed his exit from the series. Feely, 14, confirmed his casting before his character arc was teased.

“Henry is Ted’s 12-year-old son who loves to play soccer,” Feely told the Birmingham Parent in October 2025. “That’s all I can share! I had to practice a lot of soccer for this role!”

Sudeikis, 50, meanwhile, previously spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about ending the third season with Ted reuniting with his family.

“The story was told,” he said in July 2026. “Ted went home [to Kansas City] to be with his son. I wasn’t going to have Ted uproot their life to justify the money truck. It made no sense to me.”

The hit Apple TV series, which premiered in 2020, follows an American football coach who moves across the pond to take over a scrappy British soccer team.

After originally ending the show with season 3, Sudeikis chose to return to the story.

“I know I needed this,” he told THR about coming back for at least another three-season arc. “I needed it as much as other people do.”

In a separate interview with USA Today, Sudeikis admitted he was nervous.

“And it’s scary [to come back],” he added. “But it’s like, doesn’t that kind of mean you’re supposed to do it? Like, you’re supposed to walk toward the fear, face that, confront that?”

While Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Jeremy Swift, Brett Goldstein and Brendan Hunt returned, there were some obvious absences, including Phil Dunster, who is now starring on HBO’s Rooster. The series was created by Ted Lasso executive producer Bill Lawrence and caused a scheduling conflict.

Ted Lasso airs Wednesdays on Apple TV.