Family Guy Creator Seth McFarlane Plans Live-Action Debut Ted

by Manny Castro | April 13, 2010 at 01:15 am

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Seth MacFarlane, the creator and star of Family Guy, is in talks with Universal to make his live-action debut on an R-rated movie about a teddy bear.

The film will also mark his directorial debut. Simply titled, Ted, the plot is described as the story of a man who as a child wished that his teddy bear could come to life. As an adult, the toy gets in the way of his relationship with a woman.

Universal Pictures has stepped up to acquire the $65 million budget Ted, an R-rated comedy that will mark the feature directorial debut of Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane.

The film, which was developed by Media Rights Capital, is a "Hard R" comedy about a man and his teddy bear. The feature will mix live action and CG. MacFarlane will also co-star and provide the voice for the CG-generated title character.

MacFarlane wrote the script with Family Guy cohorts Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild, and he will produce with MRC, Scott Stuber and John Jacobs.

Universal, MRC and MacFarlane intend to get the film into production this year. That is subject to delicate discussions between Fox, MacFarlane's WME reps and attorneys Karl Austen and Jim Jackoway.

MacFarlane will work the film around his duties supervising Family Guy, The Cleveland Show and American Dad! and providing a majority of the voices. Fox and MacFarlane have long wanted to make a Family Guy theatrical feature, but Ted will come first. Fox apparently was reluctant to embrace the teddy bear movie because of its R-rating.

Also, Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Mila Kunis, who voices Meg on Family Guy, is in talks for the lead female role.