Season two of The Bear has finally arrived, with 10 new episodes transforming the fast-paced, stress-filled dramedy about a Chicago beef spot into an introspective, calming character study (which still features some heart-clutching moments). The first season of the FX series arrived on Hulu with a bang last summer, as critics and fervent fans propelled the show from a stealth word-of-mouth hit to numerous award nominations (including wins for star Jeremy Allen White). Months after the game-changing season-one finale, season two picks up right where the first left off, with Carmy (White) and his team attempting to open a new restaurant, The Bear, just 12 weeks after the closing of his late brother’s sandwich shop, the Original Beef of Chicagoland.
For those who have already torn through the entire second season, including that heart-wrenching finale, here’s what we know about the show’s future so far.
Has The Bear been renewed for a third season?
FX has confirmed that The Bear will return for a third season in 2024 with filming set to begin in February or March of this year. The Bear is also a bona fide awards darling, and has received several nods for this year’s Emmy nominations.
What would season three of The Bear be about?
Season two ends on friends-and-family night, as the restaurant takes a big step toward opening to the public. It’s likely that season three will see the Bear finally open its doors, and hopefully, business will be booming, since Carmy, Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), and the team still have to pay Uncle Jimmy back. The show will also likely continue to explore themes of loss and living with grief.
The show’s star Jeremy Allen White did share in a recent interview with Variety that the series would return to a “functional kitchen atmosphere” a la season 1.
As for how many seasons The Bear will last, showrunners Chris Storer and Joanna Calo told Variety in January they have a road map for the entire series, but the duo are staying mum on how long they see the show going.
When would season three come out?
The Bear moves very quickly behind the scenes; after receiving a renewal a month after the series premiere, season two arrived after only a year-long hiatus. There’s a chance that the series could stick with its current pace, with season three arriving in summer 2024.
Quinci LeGardye is an LA-based freelance writer who covers culture, politics, and mental health through a Black feminist lens. When she isn’t writing or checking Twitter, she’s probably watching the latest K-drama or giving a concert performance in her car.