The Bear season 3: release date, trailer, confirmed cast, plot synopsis, and more

It's time to gorge on The Bear season 3. The critically-acclaimed comedy-drama series has finally landed on FX via Hulu (US) and Disney Plus (internationally), so it's time to chow down on everything worth knowing about it before you stream all 10 episodes.

With that in mind, we've cooked up a tasty guide for you to read that'll tell you what we know about The Bear's third season. Indeed, you'll learn more about its official release date, confirmed cast, plot specifics, trailers, and the hit show's future. It's fine dine reading, we can assure you. It goes without saying, but full spoilers follow for The Bear seasons 1 and 2. Potential season 3 spoilers are also discussed from now on.

The Bear season 3 release date

The Bear season 3 launched on Hulu on Wednesday, June 26 and Disney Plus on Thursday, June 27. The culinary drama series' worldwide return, which was announced alongside The Bear season 3's first short teaser in May, was initially pencilled in for June 27. However, Deadline reported that it'll now land at 6pm PT / 9pm ET on June 26 (US), and 2am BST (UK) and 11am AEST (Australia) on June 27. 

As mentioned, all 10 episodes arrived on launch day, so you won't be sat waiting around to finish this multi-course meal. Yes, chef!

The Bear season 3 trailer

FX's The Bear | Season 3 | Official Trailer - YouTube

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The Bear season 3's official trailer was released on May 30, and it teased more controlled chaos, money problems, and Claire's return in the hit FX show.

Ahead of its arrival, we'd only been treated to a couple of tasty-looking starters (read: teasers). The first, revealed alongside season 3's launch date in mid-May, simply showed Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto preparing for another busy day at the titular restaurant. Two weeks later – and a mere 48 hours before season 3's proper trailer dropped – another teaser for The Bear season 3 served up a sizzling appetizer ahead of the main course that left us hungry for more.

The Bear season 3 confirmed cast

Spoilers for The Bear seasons 1 and 2 follow.

Here's The Bear season 3's confirmed cast list:

• Jeremy Allan White as Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto
• Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Richard 'Richie' Jerimovich
• Ayo Edebiri as Sydney Adamu
• Lionel Boyce as Marcus Brooks
• Liza Colón-Zayas as Tina Marrero
• Abby Elliott as Natalie 'Sugar' Berzatto
• Matty Matheson as Neil Fak 
• Edwin Lee Gibson as Ebraheim 
• Oliver Platt as Uncle Jimmy 'Cicero' Kalinowski
• Molly Gordon as Claire
• Chris Witaske as Pete

The actors listed above are the show's stalwarts, but we wouldn't be shocked if more A-listers joining as season 3 guest stars. Indeed, with The Bear sweeping the comedy award categories at numerous ceremonies in 2024, the biggest names in Hollywood could be falling over themselves to cameo.

Jamie Lee Curtis, Bob Odenkirk, Will Poulter, Olivia Colman, Sarah Paulson, Jon Bernthal, and Gillian Jacobs are just some of the big names who appeared in seasons 1 and 2. Of that contingent, Bernthal is the most notable, with the Daredevil and The Walking Dead actor featuring as Carmy and Sugar's deceased older brother Mikey. If season 3 flashes back in time like its predecessors have, we'll see Bernthal's Mikey again. 

It's unclear if Curtis will return as Donna, the trio's mom, but we'd be surprised if any of the other aforementioned actors make guest appearances again. Regardless, we can't wait to feast our eyes on other big-name cameos in The Bear season 3. Well, we're certainly hoping for some, anyway.

The Bear season 3 plot synopsis

Here's The Bear season 3's official plot synopsis: "The Bear follows Carmy, Sydney, and Richie as they do what it takes to elevate The Bear, their beef stand turned fine dining establishment, to the highest level, all while doing their best just to stay in business. 

"It’s a losing battle every single day in the restaurant business. Carmy pushes himself harder than ever, and demands excellence from his crew, who do their best to match his intensity. Their quest for culinary excellence will propel the crew to new levels and stress the bonds that hold the restaurant together. 

"As the team grows in size, each member will strive to reach a greater level of service within their role. In the restaurant industry, you’re never on solid ground, and with that ever-changing landscape comes new challenges and opportunities. Our chefs have learned that every second counts, but this season we’ll find out if they have what it takes to make it to tomorrow."

Major spoilers follow for The Bear season 2. Potential spoilers are also on the way for season 3, so turn back now or skip ahead (using the navigation bar on the left side of the page) if you'd rather not know anything.

The season 2 finale saw a triumphant opening night for the new look restaurant, albeit not without the customary, stress-inducing issues. There was (eventually) confidence in the kitchen, punters loving the food, and everyone staying cool, calm, and collected. However, in true season cliff-hanger fashion, there was also more family drama between Carmy and Richie, as well as Carmy and Claire’s relationship hanging by a thread when the former accuses the latter of ruining his focus on the restaurant. Other tension-filled issues, such as Pete accidentally revealing Natalie's pregnancy to Donna, also set up spicy story threads heading into season 3.

One particular character we learned more about in season 2 was Marcus (Lionel Boyce), with The Bear digging deeper into his life outside the kitchen, although it mainly focused on his mother’s ill health. As his confidence grew throughout the season – centered on a visit to chef Luca (Guardians of the Galaxy 3's Will Poulter) in Copenhagen leaving him truly inspired with new desert ideas – the final episode saw him miss calls from his mom’s carer, which could signify sadness and hardship for Marcus in season 3.

Speaking to Deadline in June 2022, Boyce spoke about where he'd like Marcus' arc to go next, saying: "I think the thing to me that is interesting to explore is just like continuing the journey of aspiring for greatness. It’s just a story of passion. All the writers do such a great job of arcing out specific stories for each character, so I’m excited to see where they’ll take it. But for me, I would love to explore that."

In a chat with The Hollywood Reporter (THR), Boyce declined to elaborate on the above subplot. Indeed, one of the show's breakout stars even said he didn't want to know about spoilers before shooting certain scenes, saying: "If you ask, Chris [Storer, The Bear's creator] will always tell you, but I’m still a fan of this show and I don’t want to know everything. Sometimes we’ll be talking, and he’ll just drop a bomb about what’s going to happen."

There’s also the seemingly simmering romance-laced chemistry between Carmy and Sydney that has left viewers hypothesizing about whether they'll get together. However, Edibiri feels that’s not where the writers are heading, telling THR: "It’s really not our thought process when we’re making the show, and I understand it can be part of a show’s culture – but I don’t think they’re going to get what they want."

One Sydney-centric relationship that might be explored more in season 3, is the one she has with her father Emmanuel (Robert Townsend). The season 2 finale revealed the pair had somewhat reconciled following Emmanuel's refusal to support Sydney's desire to become a chef. Asked whether she'd like to explore that dynamic further, Adebiri told Deadline: "I love the idea of Sydney finding more confidence and belief in herself, but it’s also fun getting to play someone who’s flawed and kind of a mess". Watch this space, then.

As for the fallout from Carmy and Richie's latest spat, Ebon Moss-Bachrach told Deadline (in the same article linked above): "They seem very far apart from the last thing, I saw. I do think the ball is in Carmy’s court. I think Richie is a very loyal friend who is a very resilient soul. Carmy seems more fragile and neurotic."

That won't be the only storyline Richie is involved in this season. Replying to a query from The Daily Show about the direction of Richie's season 3 arc, Moss-Bachrach said: "He’s become aware that there’s a path for him to find purpose and live a maybe fuller life, a richer life, in a way, but just because he’s aware of that path doesn’t mean that he’s cruising up to the top". Moss-Bachrach also told The Guardian that season 3's primary theme centers around "creation", rather than dysfunction and destructive tendencies.

Other season 3 story threads focus on numerous character relationships, including the fallout of Carmy’s relationship with Claire, the never-ending fight for The Bear’s success (now that it’s officially opened), and Uncle Jimmy’s massive loan that still needs paying back, among many others. Moss-Bachrach may hint at a brighter future for the titular eatery and its employees, but it suddenly won't be plain sailing for them, in our view.

Where to watch The Bear

The Bear seasons 1 and 2 can be streamed on FX via Hulu in the US, and Disney Plus in the UK and Australia. In our opinion, it's one of the best Hulu shows and best Disney Plus shows around, so work up an appetite by streaming them before The Bear season 3 arrives.

Will The Bear get a fourth season?

We'd be surprised if The Bear season 3 is the series' final entry. It's FX's biggest TV hit (Shōgun might argue otherwise) to date so, unless its quality suffers a significant drop next season or people stop tuning in – both are incredibly unlikely, in our opinion – we'd expect a fourth season to follow.

A fourth season appears to be on the way, too, with multiple sources telling Deadline that The Bear was "picked up for a fourth season to film back to back [with season 3] in Chicago". We await official confirmation from FX with bated breath.

As for what one cast member hope for The Bear's future, Corey Hendrix, who plays Gary 'Sweep' Woods, told The Independent that he could envisage it getting four more chapters post-season 3. That'll depend on everyone's appetite to continue and/or whether Storer and company think there's more story left to tell. While we wait for developments on all of the above, you should watch one of these six intense dramas if you're hungry for similar genre fare.

For more Hulu and Disney Plus-focused coverage, check out our review of Disney Plus or our Hulu review. You can find out what the best Hulu movies and best Disney Plus movies are, too, with our help.