‘The Bear’ Drops Surprise Prequel Episode ‘Gary’

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The fifth (and likely final) season of The Bear isn’t out yet, but fans of the show can get a taste of the show before the season premieres.

The show dropped a surprise prequel episode Tuesday on Hulu. Titled “Gary,” the hour-long episode follows Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Mikey (Jon Bernthal) on a trip to Gary, Indiana, before the events of the main series. (It’s searchable on Hulu under the episode title.)

Moss-Bachrach announced the episode on Instagram Tuesday. He and Bernthal — who are currently starring in a stage adaptation of Dog Day Afternoon on Broadway — co-wrote the episode, and The Bear creator Christopher Storer directed.

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“Making this was a dream come true,” Moss-Bachrach wrote in his post. “Thanks to the beautiful people of Gary, Indiana and as always Chicago, Illinois.”

As for The Bear itself, it’s expected to premiere in the summer (all four prior seasons have premiered in June). It’s been widely assumed — including by members of the show’s cast — that the Emmy-winning FX series would wrap with season five. “Everybody knows it’s the end of the show,” Jamie Lee Curtis said in a red carpet interview with Entertainment Tonight in February. “I’m not breaking any news to anybody. It’s the end of the show — they’ve said it from the beginning.”

Storer originally had a four-season arc planned for the series, lead Jeremy Allen White has said in past interviews. FX, whose FX Productions is behind the Hulu series, picked up a fifth season a week after season four premiered in June 2025.

The Bear’s first three seasons won 21 Emmys, including a best comedy series award in 2023 and acting honors for Moss-Bachrach, Curtis, White, Ayo Edebiri, Liza Colon-Zayas and Jon Bernthal. Season four will compete in this year’s Emmy race, and the final season will be eligible in 2027.

Lionel Boyce, Matty Matheson, Edwin Lee Gibson and Corey Hendrix also star in The Bear. Storer executive produces with Josh Senior, Joanna Calo, Cooper Wehde, Tyson Bidner, Matheson, Hiro Murai and Rene Gube. Courtney Storer is co-EP and culinary producer.

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