Seth MacFarlane knows exactly what he's doing. And what he's doing is publicly negotiating his Ted deal through the press.
At Deadline's Contenders TV event, MacFarlane revealed he's interested in a third season of the live-action Ted series—provided Peacock can come up with "Scrooge McDuck money." He's also flirting with the idea of a theatrical Ted movie, because why not leverage multiple platforms against each other?
It's a masterclass in Hollywood negotiation. By publicly stating his price and his options, MacFarlane is telling Peacock that he's got other suitors. The theatrical movie isn't just a creative possibility—it's a negotiating tactic. Universal (which owns Peacock) would much rather keep Ted on their streaming platform than watch MacFarlane take it to a rival studio for a big-screen release.
The Ted series has been a solid performer for Peacock, which desperately needs wins in the streaming wars. The talking teddy bear shtick works in episodic format, giving MacFarlane room to explore character and story in ways the films couldn't quite manage.
But here's the thing: MacFarlane doesn't need Ted the way Peacock needs Ted. He's got Family Guy money. He's got feature film clout. He can walk away and be fine. That's the position you want to negotiate from.
The "Scrooge McDuck money" quote is doing heavy lifting. It's funny, it's memorable, and it sends a clear message: MacFarlane knows his worth and he's not settling. Streaming services have spent years lowballing creators while crying poverty. Now that the market's maturing, talent with proven hits is finally starting to flex.
