Morgan Freeman has signed on for a pivotal role in the Universal Pictures comedy sequel Ted 2, alongside Mark Wahlberg and Amanda Seyfried.

While no specific story details have been given, insiders claim Morgan Freeman is playing an iconic civil rights lawyer who helps Ted (voiced by Seth MacFarlane) take care of some legal issues. Director Seth MacFarlane wanted a major star for this role, and he had reportedly been eyeing Morgan Freeman all along.

Mark Wahlberg is returning as John Bennett, a grown man with a talking teddy bear as his best friend. Amanda Seyfried joined the cast in February as the female lead, with a majority of the Ted supporting cast returning as well, including Mila Kunis, Patrick Warburton and Jessica Barth. Our February report revealed that Mila Kunis, who played John's girlfriend Lori, will have a much smaller role in the sequel.

Variety reports that the rest of the supporting cast will be filled with cameos from A-list celebrities and other pop culture icons as characters unlike any of their previous roles.

Seth MacFarlane is directing from a screenplay he co-wrote with Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild, with Scott Stuber producing. Production is currently under way in Boston.

Morgan Freeman most recently starred in Transcendence and Lucy, and he will next be seen in Dolphin Tale 2, opening in theaters September 12.