A few weeks ago, Brendan brought you the awe-inspiring news that Mark Wahlberg was giving the once-over to the lead role in Seth MacFarlane's feature directorial debut, Ted (referred to then as Teddy Bear).  Today, you can lay to rest any doubts you may have about Wahlberg's interest in the R-rated comedy which features a walking/talking/life-sized/computer-generated teddy bear.  According to Deadline, the actor is now in serious negotiations to play the role of the thirty-something Boston man whose childhood stuffed animal/best friend has come to life (a.k.a. the role of a lifetime).

MacFarlane, who penned the script alongside Family Guy scribes Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild, will also voice the bear who is described as a "carousing, irresponsible slacker."  As the story goes, Wahlberg's potential character is seeing his attempts at maturing constantly detoured by the bear's adolescent antics.  Story of my life.  Media Rights Capital is financing Ted (which Universal acquired last April) at an estimated $65 million budget.  As for Wahlberg, he can next be seen in David O. Russell's The Fighter which hits theaters on December 10th.