Imagine this: Keeley Jones bursts through the door of Rebecca Welton’s office, pink gift bag in hand and the biggest smile on her face. Before Rebecca can even ask what her best friend is up to, Keely shoves the bag into Rebecca’s hands. Rebecca slowly pulls out a Barbie that looks just like (Well, as accurate as Mattel can get) her.
As Rebecca takes in the sight, Keeley pulls another doll out of her handbag — one that looks like Keeley Jones, Independent Woman. It takes a second, but Keeley gets Rebecca onboard, and the successful women take a minute to celebrate this win together. That is until Ted Lasso also bursts through the door with a Mattel doll of himself in his hand.
The trio geeks out before they realize the downside to this very cool development: Someone will have to tell Jamie Tartt that he didn’t make the Mattel cut — yet.
That’s right, Ted Lasso fans! Mattel and Warner Bros. have teamed up for a new Ted Lasso x Barbie Collection. The initial launch includes three dolls: Ted Lasso, Rebecca Welton, and Keeley Jones. Neither Warner Bros. nor Mattel have confirmed or denied whether there will be more Ted Lasso Barbies in the future.
The three available dolls are available to pre-order for $50 USD and will ship on or before Friday, December 8.
The one in Jason Sudeikis‘s likeness catches Ted in his usual AFC Richmond training attire. “Ted is so sweet, kind, and perpetually joyful. We captured this Ted-ergy and sculpted 12” of plastic fantasticness wearing AFC Richmond’s finest,” designer, Suim Noh said, per Mattel. Ted Lasso himself can’t even believe the collaboration, writing, “Ken’t believe this is a real thing,” on X (formerly Twitter).
Packaging designer Charis Ceniseoz says, “Ted’s face is just so perfectly captured in this doll! His eyes have that believable sparkle, and that mustachioed smirk completes it perfectly, said packaging designer Charis Ceniseoz. The commemorative packaging of the Ted Lasso doll includes AFC Richmond’s locker room with a “BELIEVE” sign and one of Nate’s homemade suggestion boxes.
The Rebecca Welton Barbie Doll recreates one of the earliest looks Hannah Waddingham wore on the Apple TV+ show. The champagne top is the Hash Pussy-Bow Silk-Satin blouse in peach from the French brand Sandro, which Rebecca Welton’s Wardrobe ID’d when Waddingham wore it twice in Season 1. Rebecca sports the blouse in Ted Lasso 1×02, “Biscuits,” and Ted Lasso 1×06, “Two Aces.”
The commemorative packaging for this doll features Rebecca’s now iconic office. “We had to show off Rebecca’s action-figurey arms to mimic her fierceness on the show. We also really love how we captured her strong, no-nonsense attitude in her face,” designer Suim Noh explained, per Mattel. Yes, Noh just referenced Keeley’s quote from Ted Lasso 1×03, “Trent Crimm: The Independent.”
This Barbie collaboration is only the latest exciting news for Waddingham. Apple TV+ announced the premiere date for the multi-hyphenate’s holiday special, Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas, last week. Plus, Waddingham is GLAMOUR’s Women of the Year Awards 2023 Entertainer Honouree.
Mattel takes inspiration from a few of Keeley Jones’s fan-favorite outfits in the Barbie doll that captures Juno Temple‘s likeness. The midi dress, golden hoop earrings, black faux fur cape, and signature high ponytail scream Keeley. “Her look really speaks to her fashion style and personality on the show,” designer Suim Noh explained, per Mattel.
“I love how we captured the look of all the characters. Especially in their faces. But Keeley’s wrap was so fun to make. It has the real button closure just like real clothing!” Suim Noah added. The photos of the Ted Lasso x Barbie Collection are high definition, but even they can’t capture the tiny details that go into transforming the three Ted Lasso characters in Mattel dolls.
A lot of work goes into the creations. Who can forget Apple TV+’s animated Ted Lasso Christmas short, “The Missing Mustache?” Nevertheless, the Ted Lasso x Barbie Collection isn’t the first team-up between the show and Mattel Creations. That would be the currently sold-out Little People Collector Ted Lasso Special Edition Figure Set.
Beyond Mattel Creations, the Warner Bros. show has collaborated with FIFA to include AFC Richmond on FIFA 23. More recently, Nike released a Ted Lasso-themed ad ahead of a collaboration of AFC Richmond merchandise. So, even though Ted Lasso wrapped up its three-season run (that is still unclear whether its the end) in June 2023, there’s no stopping the love for this show. Richmond ’til we die!
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The Ted Lasso x Barbie Collection is available to pre-order.
Which Ted Lasso x Barbie Collection doll are you going to buy first? Let us know in the comments below!
