Summary
- Mila Kunis did not return for Ted 2 due to personal reasons, as she was pregnant during the filming schedule.
- The absence of Kunis in Ted 2 had a negative impact on the franchise, leading to lower ratings and box office gross.
- The original concept for Ted 2 included Kunis's character, but it had to be changed due to similarities with another movie and, ultimately, Kunis's pregnancy.
Ted was a huge hit for everyone involved, but why didn't Mila Kunis return for Ted 2? Seth MacFarlane is best known as the creator of Family Guy, but while he may have evolved into something of a name brand, it took a few years to reach that point and Ted was certainly part of that success. The original Ted opened to surprisingly strong reviews, with critics being impressed by its mix of laughs and heart. The movie was also a major, R-rated hit and grossed nearly $550 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo). However, while still profitable, the sequel wasn't nearly as successful, which is partly due to Kunis' absence.
Ted 2 is entertaining enough and has an interesting premise with the title character fighting for his rights to be seen as a person, but it felt forced compared to the original. Unlike the "fresh" original movie, Ted 2 has a "rotten" 45% on Rotten Tomatoes, and while Ted is one of the highest-grossing comedies ever, Ted 2 made less than half of its predecessor's gross. Ted 2 also noticeably lacked Family Guy''s Mila Kunis as Lori, John's girlfriend and eventual fiancée from the first entry. Her absence is certainly felt, but why didn't Mila Kunis return for Ted 2?
Mila Kunis Wasn't In Ted 2 For Personal Reasons
That 70s Show actor Mila Kunis has been a longtime collaborator of Seth MacFarlane's so her absence is questionable. However, there are some practical reasons why Mila Kunis didn't return for Ted 2. Kunis was pregnant when the principal photography for Ted 2 was scheduled. However, while actors not returning for sequels often comes down to creative differences or sour relationships between them and the directors, that isn't the case with Kunis and McFarlane. Kunis still plays Meg in the MacFarlane-created Family Guy and McFarlane continues to make jokes at her expense in other projects like A Million Ways to Die in the West.
Why Losing Mila Kunis Hurt The Ted Franchise
The loss of Mila Kunis between Ted and Ted 2 severely affected the franchise. The sequel took a noticeable dip in ratings, and the shockingly low box office gross effectively ruled out the possibility of a third Ted movie. Stoner comedies like Ted 2 are generally more audience pleasers than critical darlings, but in this case, Ted 2 didn't even win over general audiences. Along with Ted 2's Rotten Tomatoes score, the movie has a surprisingly low 50% audience score too. Though this doesn't immediately appear as a result of Kunis' absence, the Ted 2 story was hugely negatively impacted by it.
In Ted 2, John falls for Amanda Seyfried's lawyer Samantha Jackson. While Amanda Seyfried is an incredible actress, her chemistry with actor Mark Wahlberg simply didn't compare to his bond with Kunis, which was one of the many complaints regarding Ted 2. Kunis ultimately brought something different to the screen, uniting the cast and making a genuinely funny film. Though Seyfried is talented in her own right and Kunis' disappearance works smoothly within the narrative, it was still a huge loss.
The Original Concept For Ted 2 & How Lori Was Written Out
Ted 2 was originally much different, as it was more of a road-trip movie that followed John and Ted smuggling weed on a cross-country trip (via NY Times). In this original plan, Lori was still a part of the sequel. However, the plan was eventually scrapped following We're the Millers. The 2013 movie stars Jason Sudeikis and Jennifer Aniston impersonating a married suburban couple with a family, and they smuggle drugs using an RV during a "family trip." The core concepts of We're the Millers and Ted 2 are almost identical, and as a result, Ted 2 would have suffered critically and commercially if MacFarlane stuck to the original plan.
Between having to change the original story and Kunis becoming pregnant, Ted 2 looked a lot different from the initial idea for the sequel. Instead of Lori being the token level-headed (but still exciting) character of the wacky movie, she was replaced by Seyfried. Kunis' absence was quickly glossed over in Ted 2, as it's revealed that Lori and John simply got divorced. Given that the concept was changed to Ted's legal battle with Ted going to court in Ted 2, MacFarlane had a simple fix by making Ted's lawyer John's new love interest. Unfortunately, it didn't work out quite as well as Kunis' role in the first film.