Newton’s Brett Manley gets a big screen debut in ‘Ted’

“Ted’’ star Mila Kunis with Brett Manley at the premiere of Universal Pictures' "Ted" in Hollywood. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

By Legacy User

July 2, 2012

2 minutes to read

Newton’s Bretton “Brett’’ Manley has a role in “Ted,’’ but he’s not allowed to see it. At 9, he’s a bit too young for Seth MacFarlane’s raunchy Boston comedy, which just broke a record for the the highest opening weekend for an original R-rated comedy.

Manley’s parents, Lee and Bobby Manley, are trying to get a DVD copy of the movie that only shows the first 15 minutes of the film so that their son can see himself as a young version of Mark Wahlberg’s character John. In the meantime, the young Manley doesn’t seem too upset that he hasn’t seen his own performance on the big screen. He just wants to act more.

“I didn’t love hockey so I tried acting,’’ Manley explained during a visit to the Globe on Monday.

Manley had only been taking classes at Boston Casting for a few months when he was asked to audition for “Ted,’’ which filmed around town last year. He had hoped to get the role of the bully character in the opening film (because that kid gets to say a swear word), but he wound up getting cast as the young John Bennett, who wishes that his teddy bear would come to life. Manley joined MacFarlane on shoots in Norwood and on a sound stage in Everett. When it was time for the release of the comedy, Manley was sent to Los Angeles so he could walk the red carpet with Wahlberg and the movie’s leading lady, Mila Kunis. Manley told us yesterday that he has since met with Disney casting directors, including the ones who find talent for the show “A.N.T. Farm.’’

One of the best parts of the experience, the young actor said, will be his reward for getting the role. When he auditioned for “Ted,’’ he asked his mom whether he could get a dog if he wound up getting a part in the big-budget comedy. She said yes. After all, the odds were low.

“We never thought I would get it,’’ Brett said, laughing. There’s no dog yet, but Lee Manley says she’ll keep her promise after the summer is over. “They want the dog,’’ she said, shaking her head. The family plans to name it Ted. … In other “Ted’’ news, the Massachusetts Production Coalition hosted a special screening of the local comedy at the Loews Boston Common over the weekend. Guests — including Hilary Missan of Boston Casting — were invited to an after-party at the nightclub Estate down the street.