The Bear season 5: release date, likely cast, plot rumors, and everything else we know about the Hulu show's final chapter

The Bear season 5 is the last course on the hit FX Networks show's menu. Indeed, the culinary comedy-drama will bow out after serving its final meal on June 25/26, so we'll have to savor every morsel once it's released.

Before Carmy and company pre-heat the titular restaurant's stoves for the final time, you'll want to know more about The Bear's last hurrah — and this guide has got you covered. From its confirmed launch dates and likely cast, to where the story could go and whether any spin-offs could get made, here's everything we know so far about the series' forthcoming season.

The Bear season 5 release date

The Bear season 5 will debut on Thursday, June 25, in North and South America, and Friday, June 26, everywhere else.

In the US, it'll premiere on Hulu, while the rest of the world can check it out on Disney+. All eight episodes are set to drop at once, too, so you'll be able to binge-watch them all on two of the best streaming services on launch day.

The Bear season 5 trailer: is there one?

No. However, with The Bear 5 due out in just over a month, I suspect a teaser will be released very soon.

Will we get an actual trailer ahead of launch as well? Maybe, but that's dependent on how much footage FX wants to show before the final season airs. Regardless, once a trailer of some description is shared online, I'll update this section.

The Bear season 5 likely cast

Here's who I expect to see in The Bear season 5:

• Jeremy Allen White as Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto
• Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Richard 'Richie' Jerimovich
• Ayo Edebiri as Sydney 'Syd' Adamu
• Lionel Boyce as Marcus Brooks
• Liza Colón-Zayas as Tina Marrero
• Abby Elliot as Natalie 'Sugar' Berzatto
• Matty Matheson as Neil Fak
• Edwin Lee Gibson as Ebraheim
• Oliver Platt as Jimmy 'Cicero' Kalinowski
• Jamie Lee Curtis as Donna Berzatto
• Molly Gordon as Claire Dunlap
• Corey Hendrix as Gary 'Sweeps' Woods
• Gillian Jacobs as Tiffany 'Tiff' Jerimovich
• Annabelle Toomey as Evie Jerimovich
• Chris Witaske as Pete Katinsky
• Ricky Staffieri as Theodore 'Teddy' Fak
• Will Poulter as Luca
• Rene Gube as Rene
• Sarah Ramos as Jessica
• Andrew Lopez as Garrett
• Carmen Christopher as Chester
• Robert Townsen as Robert Adamu
• Adam Shapiro as himself

Like previous seasons, there are bound to be plenty of guest stars — new and returning — who'll show up for The Bear's final round, too.

Where the latter is concerned, Bob Odenkirk's Lee, Sarah Paulson's Michelle, John Mulaney's Stevie, Brian Koppelman's Nicholas, aka 'The Computer', Rob Reiner's Albert, and Josh Hartnett's Frank seem like safe bets. Depending on how its primary story and subplots play out, it's also possible that Brie Larson's Francie, Olivia Colman's Andrea, John Cena's Sammy, and Joel McHale's David could return.

Last but by no means least, no season would be complete without Jon Bernthal's Michael 'Mikey' Berzatto appearing via flashbacks, too.

Bernthal's deceased character recently starred in a special flashback episode of The Bear, titled 'Gary', alongside Moss-Bachrach's Richie. Given that season 5 will be the show's big send-off, I highly doubt that 'Gary' is the last time we'll see Mikey before The Bear's last-ever end credits crawl.

The Bear season 5 story rumors and predictions

Full spoilers immediately follow for The Bear season 4.

Here's this season's plot brief: "The Bear season 5 picks up the morning after Sydney, Richie, and Natalie discover that Carmy has quit the food industry, leaving the restaurant to them.

"With no money, the threat of a sale, and a torrential storm in their way, the new partners must band together with the rest of the team to achieve one last service, hoping they’ll finally earn a Michelin star. Ultimately, they learn that what makes a restaurant 'perfect' might not be the food, but the people."

As the above synopsis lays out, chief among the biggest questions we have heading into this season is what lies in store for the titular restaurant and its former head chef.

Indeed, with Carmy quitting, it's now up to new co-partners Sydney, Richie, and Natalie to keep The Bear's head above water. The good times have started to flow at the eponymous eatery, but, with time running out to repay Cicero for his investment in the business, as well as the outward pressure to turn it into a success story, it'll take everyone — Carmy notwithstanding — to not only keep The Bear afloat, but ensure it becomes an established part of the Chicago food scene.

As for the retiring chef himself, he's set to embark on a journey to learn who he is outside of the kitchen, and hopefully make peace with his demons and trauma-filled past. Of course, that won't be easy, but with Carmy finally putting in the legwork to become a better and more emotionally stable person in season 4, he could get the happy ending he deserves.

Other narratives and character-driven moments need to be resolved before the series ends, too.

For one, everyone involved in the titular restaurant will continue working towards earning that elusive Michelin star that they desperately crave. Key to that will be Ebraheim's plan to expand the business's daytime sandwich window, aka The Beef, which will help increase its revenue streams.

Meanwhile, we need to see if Sydney and Richie can truly step up and become the leaders that The Bear needs them to be. Tina's growth into another vital cog in the restaurant's machine, Marcus' decision about whether to stay or leave to start his own bakery, and Natalie's juggling of her professional and personal lives are other major character arcs that have to be explored and wrapped up.

Lastly, The Bear season 5 has to address two of the show's biggest 'will they, won't they' situations – those involving Carmy and Claire, and Richie and Jessica.

Where the former is concerned, the pair reconciled after Carmy's apology, but their relationship, while now amicable, doesn't seem like it can go back to the way it was in season 2. For many viewers, keeping them apart will be a relief — after all, some of the fanbase don't like Claire as a character. Regardless, I can't see a way for Carmy and Claire to get back together, and that might be for the best.

As for Richie and Jessica, there's been a spark between them since season 3. And, with Richie's ex-wife now married to Frank, Richie's growing confidence as The Bear's Maitre d', and Richie and Jessica growing closer with each passing season, it would make sense for them to finally get together before the show ends.

Are there any spin-offs of The Bear in development?

Currently, there's been no public acknowledgement that any spin-offs are in development. It's always possible, though, that one-off specials or an offshoot could be made.

Indeed, just recently, a flashback chapter titled 'Gary', which starred Bernthal's Mikey and Moss-Bachrach's Richie, was shadow-dropped on Hulu and Disney+. Clearly, if there's a story worth telling, showrunner Christopher Storer will tell it.

Of course, whether we'll get a sequel show or other standalone episodes is up for debate. Maybe Storer will consider The Bear season 5 as the final piece of the puzzle once it airs and allow its eclectic cast of characters to proverbially ride off into the sunset. He could also decide that, with the passage of time, the time is right to reunite us with certain individuals post-The Bear, or even give us more prequel adventures regarding Mikey before The Bear's beginning.

Right now, then, nobody knows if The Bear franchise will continue after the main show's final season — but you'll certainly hear me and many other fans shout "Yes, chef!" if we're ever asked if we want to see Carmy and company again down the road.

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