The Bear - What We Know So Far
Deadline recently announced that FX comedy pilot "The Bear" has officially been picked up for a full series order, meaning the show can begin shooting more episodes beyond the pilot. The production company Super Frog is behind the series, which includes director Hiro Murai, Nate Matteson, and Joanna Calo of "Bojack Horseman." Christopher Storer of "Ramy" — who wrote the pilot — and Josh Senior are also listed as producers.
"The Bear" joins a long line of storied half-hour FX comedy series, including "Atlanta," "You're The Worst," and "What We Do In The Shadows," among others. Nick Grad, president of original programming at FX, said in a statement that "The series gets off to a fantastic start in the pilot and we know this creative team including Hiro, Nate, and Joanna has the comedy chops and producing experience to deliver the latest in a storied line of FX comedies."
Comedy fans may be curious to know more about the new sitcom, including when "The Bear" will be released and what exactly it's about. Here's everything we currently know about "The Bear."
What is the release date of The Bear?
"The Bear" is listed by Deadline as being set to premiere in 2022, but we don't know exactly when it will come out next year otherwise.
Predicting if "The Bear" will be coming out earlier or later next year is also quite tricky. Producer Calo mentions in her statement that the writers' room is about to get to work, so presumably the scripts for episodes beyond the pilot still need to be written, and pre-production will also take some serious time. Making a television series is an especially high-labor endeavor for all involved too.
Assuming that it will take roughly a year for pre-production, then principal photography, then editing and post-production, expect "The Bear" to emerge most likely later on in 2022. However, if the COVID-19 pandemic delays writing and shooting, then it's more likely that the FX sitcom will have a 2023 release. We'll likely discover more details as the series develops.
Who is in the cast of The Bear?
Jeremy Allen White, best known for his performance as frustrated would-be overachiever Lip on Showtime series "Shameless," will play the lead role on "The Bear." Other regular actors on the show will include Ebon Moss-Bachrach, best known his role for "Girls" and playing Micro in "The Punisher"; comedian and "Big Mouth" voice actress Ayo Edebiri; Lionel Boyce from "Hap and Leonard" and "The Jellies"; Abby Elliott of "SNL" and "Indebted"; and Liza Colón-Zayas from "Titans." Recurring actors will include Edwin Gibson, known for his recent role on FX's "Fargo," and Matty Matheson from shows like "Workin' Moms."
Grad shared in his statement that "'The Bear' delivers thanks to the ferocious performances of Jeremy Allen White and fellow cast members Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, Abby Elliott, Liza Colón-Zayas, Edwin Gibson and Matty Matheson." Clearly FX has full confidence in the show and the ensemble. Fans of cast members like Moss-Bachrach, Elliott, and White should be excited to see what they create together in FX's upcoming series "The Bear."
What is the plot of The Bear?
"The Bear" is centered on a young chef, played by White, who returns to his hometown of Chicago so that he can run the family restaurant. Presumably, things become increasingly complicated from there, though little else is known about the plot. It definitely seems like FX audiences will get to view a different side of Chicago though, as seen from the perspective of the restaurant owners and workers.
In a statement on the show getting picked up for more episodes, Super Frog associate Calo remarked that "We are so grateful to FX and overjoyed we get to tell more stories from this world. And while this cast is talented enough to make standing silently in an empty space riveting, we can't wait to get to work in the writers' room" (The Hollywood Reporter). We'll find out more about "The Bear" and the ensemble that's been put together for this sitcom when it finally debuts in 2022.