The Bear Just Dropped a Surprise Prequel Episode from Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach
The Bear just dropped a surprise prequel episode written by and starring Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, serving up a fresh slice of backstory for the hit series.
If you thought The Bear was just quietly cooking up its next (and final) season, FX decided to mess with expectations. Out of nowhere, Hulu just dropped a surprise prequel episode. If you’re as behind on the show as I am (yes, I know, get off my case), this is one of those episodes everyone and their cousin will be talking about in group chats—so heads up for spoilers and buzz.
Wait, a Prequel Episode?
Yep. The new episode is titled 'Gary' and you’ll actually have to search under that name on Hulu to find it. It’s not tucked into the main season lineup, which is a weird move, but whatever. This is a standalone, hour-long flashback that follows Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Mikey (Jon Bernthal) on a trip to Gary, Indiana, before the main series timeline kicks in.
The meta twist? Moss-Bachrach and Bernthal themselves wrote this thing, while Christopher Storer—aka the series creator—handles directing. If you’re keeping score, both actors are currently on Broadway starring in a Dog Day Afternoon stage adaptation, so clearly they're taking ‘multi-hyphenate’ very literally right now.
A Quick Refresher: What Even Is The Bear?
For those just catching up—or if you need fuel for your next work chat—The Bear is FX on Hulu’s not-so-cozy comedy-drama about food, family, and relentless stress. Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), a prodigy chef with a Michelin-pedigree, gets yanked home to Chicago after his older brother Michael dies by suicide, leaving him an Italian beef sandwich shop (and a mountain of drama).
The series isn’t shy about the chaos: debts, kitchen disasters, dysfunctional staff, and deep family trauma. No surprise it’s won more than twenty Emmy Awards so far, including that desirable ‘Outstanding Comedy Series’ trophy.
Main Cast (And Why You’ve Probably Seen Them Everywhere)
- Jeremy Allen White as Carmy
- Ayo Edebiri as Sydney
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Richie
- Abby Elliott as Sugar
- Lionel Boyce as Marcus
- Liza Colon-Zayas as Tina
- Edwin Lee Gibson as Ebraheim
- Matty Matheson as Fak
- Oliver Platt as Uncle Jimmy
- Jon Bernthal as Mikey
Behind the Scenes: Why Now?
Originally, Christopher Storer said he had a four-season arc in mind, but plans shifted—there’s now going to be a fifth (and final) season. No concrete premiere date for that batch yet, but judging by the release pattern, you can bet it’s coming in June. Mark your calendars loosely.
One thing I actually respect: this show somehow keeps a regular release schedule (even on streaming, where delays are practically a tradition). For the record:
June 23, 2022 - Season 1
June 22, 2023 - Season 2
June 26, 2024 - Season 3
June 25, 2025 - Season 4 (yes, it’s already dated)
So, About This Episode: What Are Fans Getting?
If you’re hoping for a dose of Richie and Mikey before all the chaos—this is it. The fact that the episode’s written by the actors themselves is a small flex, and pretty rare, especially for a show this high-profile.
As Ebon Moss-Bachrach explained (in an actually good bit of press):
'We’ve always wanted to dig a little deeper into what pushed these two to where we find them at the start of the show. And doing it together—while working on stage as well—just made this more personal.'
Bottom line: whether you’re a huge fan or just someone who appreciates the hustle behind TV’s more interesting experiments, 'Gary' is worth a look. And hey, at least it’s not a three-year wait for content, right?