The Bear is officially returning for season 5 — but where does the show go after that depressing ending amid Carmy’s controversial romance with Claire?
The hit Hulu series, which premiered in 2022, explores the food industry through the lens of a talented chef named Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), who returned to Chicago shortly after his older brother Mikey’s (Jon Bernthal) death to take over their family sandwich shop, The Beef. After closing the local spot, Carmy and the employees reinvented the restaurant into The Bear, which has found success and failure.
Despite building to The Bear thriving, season 4 took a sharp left turn in the finale when Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Natalie (Abby Elliot) found out that Carmy was preparing to retire and leave the restaurant to them.
This ending left fans less than thrilled considering Carmy was now separate from everyone except his love interest Claire (Molly Gordon). After reconnecting earlier in the season, it seemed like the fictional couple would be getting back together, which didn’t please some of the audience.
‘The Bear’ Season 4 Ending Explained: Was It a Series Finale?
Luckily, The Bear was renewed for a fifth season, which means there will be an explanation for where the story goes next. Keep scrolling for everything we know about season 5 so far:
When Does Season 5 Premiere?
The Bear has been consistent about premiering every June since it debuted in 2022. Going by that schedule, season 5 would likely be filmed in 2025 for a June 2026 release.
Who Is Coming Back From the Cast?
Based on the events of season 4, White, Edebiri, Moss-Bachrach, Elliott, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, Edwin Lee Gibson and Matty Matheson are expected to return. Will Poulter, Oliver Platt, Chris Witaske, Gordon, Ricky Staffieri, Gillian Jacobs and Jamie Lee Curtis were involved on a larger scale during the fourth season and are expected back.
The Bear has also continued to incorporate Bernthal’s character through flashbacks from before Mikey’s death.
What About the Guest Stars?
If there’s one thing The Bear always does is find a way to bring every A-lister to Chicago. In season 4 that included newcomer Brie Larson but also familiar faces such as John Mulaney, Sarah Ramos and Josh Hartnett.
Will There Be More Taylor Swift Nods?
While season 4 scaled back on the Swiftie vibes (only including one song in the background of a scene), it remains very likely that her music will play a role in the future.
Where Did the Show Last Leave Off?
In the season 4 finale, Sydney was not thrilled to find out that her partner was leaving her, which resulted in an emotional argument. Richie joined in and their fight got worse when Carmy brought up Mikey and how the group was still working through their grief. Sydney agreed to stay under one condition — she wanted Richie to become a partner.
Natalie was also emotional realizing that Carmy was leaving the family business behind. She started crying as the scene switched to The Bear at night as the timer Cicero (Oliver Platt) gave them to mark the two months they had left to save the restaurant reached its countdown.
The conclusion originally felt like a series finale — especially with no clarity on whether The Bear will thrive with Sydney in charge or if it is about to go under.
Will Carmy and Claire Remain Together Despite the Backlash?
Based on past seasons, Claire will presumably return despite still not being written into the story beyond being Carmy’s love interest. It didn’t help that some viewers felt more chemistry between Carmy and Sydney, who is played by Gordon’s real-life best friend Edebiri.
Gordon, who has been linked to White since 2024, addressed fan backlash before season 4 premiered.
“I’m always ‘the friend,’” she told Vanity Fair in June 2025. “I’ve never played the romantic person. I was like, ‘Whoa, this is going to be a different experience.’”
Gordon noted that White’s role “is a character that people feel so protective over, and it’s been kind of controversial to bring a romantic element into the show. That’s been at times annoying, fascinating and interesting — just to be a part of something that people have opinions on.”
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How Many More Seasons of ‘The Bear’ Could There Be?
Moss-Bachrach told The Telegraph in June 2024 that he wasn’t expecting the show to go on for much longer, saying, “I feel like we’re getting near to the end of The Bear. It seems like that story is wrapping up to me.”
The actor said he will miss playing Richie. “[He’s] very dear to me,” Moss-Bachrach said.
It feels important to note that the cast filmed seasons 3 and 4 at the same time due to White, Edebiri and Moss-Bachrach’s busy schedules, so the end could be near.
Have Any Decisions Been Made About the Future of the Show?
FX chairman John Landgraf told Variety in July 2024 about the plan for the series, saying, “We really don’t know.”
He continued: “These decisions are really creative decisions. It’s about how much more story does [creator Christopher Storer] have to tell? I mean, obviously, I’m hoping he has more … You just have to follow the creative.”
Where Is Tina’s Story Heading?
Liza Colón-Zayas made it clear in June 2025 that she knew nothing about what is to come.
“I don’t know. I really don’t. We don’t know. We don’t know the change in strategy — with Carmy leaving behind the need to pull off chaos, and sticking with consistency — how that may have affected word of mouth, whoever’s coming in,” she noted to Variety. “Maybe that’s the Hail Mary. I honestly don’t know. Is there any Hail Mary that can come through now that that clock has reached zero? I don’t know. I don’t want it to end.”
Colón-Zayas said her character, Tina, would “be devastated” by where things ended up in season 4.
“Because this isn’t just about a job. When she walked into The Beef in the ‘Napkins’ episode, it was just about a job and taking any job,” she shared. “But I don’t think this is just about this job. Now this is so much bigger than that. This show is very much about grieving and loss, and also moving forward. So I think she’ll land on her feet. But it’s gonna be hard personally.”
As for how Colón-Zayas would feel about saying goodbye to the show?
“I’ve already cried too many times. I love my job. I don’t want it to end,” she concluded. “But what I love and respect about it is maintaining the truth and the integrity and perhaps the reality that bigger, better restaurants have not been able to withstand all of the challenges of you know, rising prices, COVID, all of these things.”
What Could Happen for Marcus in Season 5?
With Marcus moving up in his career, Boyce admitted he felt “good” where things ended.
“This journey that he’s kicked off since season 1, finding his passion and finding his thing manifests and comes to fruition in a big way, a way that you daydream about. He gets this recognition in a national way,” he told Collider in June 2025. “No matter what happens on the work side, this show constantly reminds you that despite what happens on the work side, you still have to reckon with what happens in your personal life. I feel happy for him, but I’m also like, “Okay, now what are you going to do about real life?”
Boyce clarified he didn’t know what awaited The Bear from here.
“They don’t tell me anything. I find it’s easier to not ask questions. I’m like, ‘You don’t have to tell me anything. That way, I don’t have to worry about it,’” he added. “I don’t know. I have no idea. As long as you feel like you’re telling the story you want to tell, wherever you decide that ends, I’m cool with it.”
