"Ted 2" is nearing its June 29 release date but that doesn't mean there isn't time left for Universal Pictures to continue marketing the film with funny shennanigans. The studio has released a new poster for the film and it is directly inspired by the poster for the 1980 sci-fi film "Flash Gordon" that starred Sam J. Jones.
The "Ted 2" poster is a direct rip with the only change being the actors' faces and the tagline sprawled at the upper left corner. Ted also sports a beard quite similar to the one featured on Max von Sydow's Emperor Ming.
A report from Cinema Blend points out that the bottom of the "Ted 2" poster shows a portion of the "Flash Gordon" logo, hinting that the "Ted 2" poster isn't a replica but really is the original "Flash Gordon" poster with the "Ted 2" characters slapped on top.
Jones and the "Flash Gordon" series and film were a big part of the jokes in "Ted." There is even an entire sequence in the film where Mark Wahlberg's John Bennet goes to a party hosted by Ted just to meet the real Sam J. Jones. A fight ensues when Jones, who plays a parody of himself in the film, gets into a fight with Ted's neighbor who reminds him of Emperor Ming.
Jones is also set to return in "Ted 2" and the newest poster hints that the "Flash Gordon" jokes are still intact.
Wahlberg returns as John Bennet and his talking teddy bear Ted, voiced by director-writer Seth MacFarlane. Mila Kunis could not participate in the film due to her pregnancy but Amanda Seyfried has stepped in as the new female lead. Morgan Freeman and Liam Neeson have also joined the film's cast.
The film tells the tale of Ted wanting to have a baby with his girlfriend Tami-Lynn, played by Jessica Barth, but is denied this by civil court until he can prove he is human, at least in the eyes of the law.
"Ted 2" will be released in theaters this June 29.
