Will There Be ‘The Bear’ Season 5? Here’s Why A Renewal Could Be Complicated

FX’s 21-time Emmy-winning series The Bear returned this week with its highly anticipated fourth season. The 10 new episodes delivered plenty of ups and downs for the restaurant and its characters. As Carmy confronts his past and begins to rediscover himself, he makes a life-changing decision in the Season 4 finale that could change everything.

Warning: Spoilers ahead. In Season 4, The Bear survives the Chicago Tribune review and the crew adapts by making substantial changes to the way the restaurant is run. While some staff members say goodbye, more effective (and familiar) ones are brought in to help Richie tighten the ship. Carmy finally eases up on changing the menu every day and commits to serving the most popular dishes consistently, making everyone’s lives easier.

Sydney also made the difficult decision to turn down Shapiro’s offer and stay loyal to The Bear despite its uncertain future. Carmy and his mother Donna finally have a heart-to-heart conversation where she apologizes for how she acted as a mother. There’s also a “Fishes” reunion at Frank and Tiffany’s wedding, where in one touching scene, everyone is gathered under a table comforting Richie’s daughter, Eva, by sharing their fears. And then, there was the ending no one could have seen coming.

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Following the emotional cliffhanger that wrapped up season four, a lot of questions remain about what it all means — especially for Jeremy Allen White’s character, Carmy, who is taking a step back in the culinary drama. With a major shift on the horizon, what does the future of The Bear look like? Will FX renew the drama for another season, or could this ending serve as the series finale?

Here’s everything to know so far about the status of The Bear Season 5, including the latest from FX about a potential renewal, the challenges of filming another season, what could happen next and more.

Will There Be The Bear Season 5?

FX has not yet renewed The Bear for a fifth season. The fourth season earned a quiet renewal from the network in 2024 and was filmed back-to-back with Season 3. But as of June 2025, there’s been no official word about a potential fifth season from FX.

According to a new report from Variety, series creator Christopher Storer has an idea of where The Bear could go next in Season 5. However, the challenge of creating another season depends on “cast availability, creative intent and network decision-making on when it can happen,” according to the publication.

One of the main challenges is the availability of the show’s biggest stars, who are in high demand for big-budget Hollywood projects. Jeremy Allen White is set to play Bruce Springsteen in the upcoming biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere. Ebon Moss-Bachrach will soon make his Marvel debut as Ben Grimm, a.k.a. The Thing, in Fantastic Four, followed by roles in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars in 2026 and 2027.

Ayo Edebiri, who voiced Envy in Inside Out 2, is set to write the screenplay for the upcoming live-action Barney film. She will also star in Apple TV+’s new rom-com series Prodigies and in Luca Guadagnino’s After the Hunt opposite Julia Roberts. Later this year, she’ll appear alongside Woody Harrelson in James L. Brooks’ Ella McCay.

What Could Happen In The Bear Season 5?

Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Bear Season 4.

Season 4 ended with a cliffhanger that raises questions not only about the future of the restaurant, but also about its head chef. In Episode 10, which was shot entirely in the back alley of The Bear, Carmy reveals to Syd and Richie that he no longer wants to work in restaurants.

The conversation comes after Syd discovers that Carmy had been planning to leave after he made a change to the partnership agreement through Pete. Instead of splitting The Bear’s 50% share three ways, it was adjusted to 25% for Natalie and 25% for Sydney, with Carmy removed from the agreement entirely.

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Carmy tells Syd that he wants her to run The Bear because she’s “everything” that he’s “never going to be.”

“You’re considerate. You allow yourself to feel things. You allow yourself to care. You are a natural leader and teacher and you’re doing all this stuff for” the right reasons, he says. “Any chance of any kind of good in the building, it started when you walk in. And any possibility of it surviving, it’s with you… Because you’re The Bear.”

If White returns for Season 5, his character could be heading in a new direction as he begins to explore life outside the culinary world. This could include getting back with Claire, finally processing Mikey’s death and healing relationships with his family and friends — something he started to do in Season 4. Most importantly, the next chapter could focus on Carmy discovering himself and his passions beyond being a chef.

But we also don’t expect The Bear to close its doors — even though Uncle and Computer’s timer reached zero. Carmy promised Syd he would give his 25% stake to Richie, allowing him to have an ownership role in the restaurant moving forward. He also vowed to do everything in his power to save The Bear so they could have smooth sailing ahead.

Season 5 will likely see Syd and Richie step into their leadership roles without Carmy, shaping The Bear into the restaurant they always envisioned. As shown in the final episodes of Season 4, The Bear is on track to become profitable, not just because of The Beef’s successful takeout window, but also due to the significant changes made in response to the Chicago Tribune review. Marcus also made Food & Wine Magazine’s list of Best New Chefs.

Which Cast Members Could Return For The Bear Season 5?

If The Bear is renewed for Season 5, most of the original cast members will likely return, including White, Edebiri, Moss-Bachrach, Abby Elliott, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, Matty Matheson and Ricky Staffieri. Sources told Variety that the principal cast is contractually committed for a fifth season if FX renews the show.

Like previous seasons, Season 4 featured new and returning guest stars. Jamie Lee Curtis returned as Donna Berzatto, while Jon Bernthal and Will Poulter reprised their roles as Mikey Berzatto and Chef Luca, respectively. Viewers also saw Michelle Berzatto (Sarah Paulson) and Stevie (John Mulaney), along with other family members from Season 2’s “Fishes” episode. Additionally, Brie Larson made her debut in Episode 7 as Fancie Fak, Natalie’s former childhood friend–turned–lover–turned–enemy.

Stay tuned to learn more updates about a potential fifth season.

The Bear Season 4 is streaming on Hulu and Disney+. Watch the official trailer below.