Amanda Seyfried has apparently been cast as the female lead for the sequel to hit comedy Ted.

The 28-year-old star, acclaimed for her roles in Les Miserables and Lovelace, will be starring opposite Mark Wahlberg and a potty-mouthed animated bear in Ted 2 - according to Deadline.

The movie site claims that Mila Kunis, the female lead in the first movie, is likely to play only a small role in filmmaker Seth MacFarlane's follow-up.

Deadline's Mike Fleming Jr writes: "I'm told this has nothing to do with anything other than a creative decision that MacFarlane decided to take with the plotting of the sequel.

"He and Kunis remain close, I'm told, and she continues to provide the voice of Meg in MacFarlane's Family Guy."

The original movie was a critical and commercial hit when it was released in 2012 - with MacFarlane and Wahlberg winning Best Duo at the MTV Movie Awards for their double act as man and bear.