Even as fans debated whether The Bear was starting to lose its bite, FX has decided to stay in the kitchen. On the heels of The Bear Season 4’s premiere, the network officially announced the hit series has been renewed for a fifth season. The news comes despite the show’s latest installment receiving the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score in its history, currently sitting at 80% from critics and a worrying 69% from audiences. That’s a noticeable drop from the show’s flawless 100% runs for Seasons 1 and 2, and even lower than Season 3’s already softening numbers.
But according to FX Chairman John Landgraf, the audience is still showing up:
“The Bear continues to be a fan favorite worldwide and their response to this season—as seen through incredibly high viewership—has been as spectacular as any of its previous seasons. Year-in and year-out, Chris Storer, the producers, cast and crew make The Bear one of the best shows on television, and we are excited that they will continue to tell this magnificent story.”
While the critical scores may have dipped, the show’s stars are staying busy. White will play Bruce Springsteen in Deliver Me from Nowhere this October and is also joining Star Wars as Rotta the Hutt in The Mandalorian and Grogu. Meanwhile, Moss-Bachrach is set to appear in Fantastic Four: First Steps next month, and Edebiri remains one of the most in-demand actors in Hollywood.
Behind the scenes, The Bear is created by Christopher Storer, with a producing team including Joanna Calo, Hiro Murai, Rene Gube, and Matty Matheson, among others. FX Productions continues to back the project, with all episodes currently available on Hulu, and Disney+ internationally.
What Happened in ‘The Bear’ Season 4?
Season 4 saw Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), and Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) determined to elevate The Bear from a passion project to a culinary institution. With mounting pressures, emotional baggage, and big ambitions colliding, the team’s pursuit of excellence may be costing them more than they realize. The ensemble cast also includes Abby Elliott, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, Matty Matheson, and recurring stars Oliver Platt and Molly Gordon.
Whether or not The Bear can recapture its earlier magic in Season 5 remains to be seen—but FX is betting there’s still plenty on the menu.
The Bear Seasons 1 to 4 are streaming now on Hulu, and on Disney+ around the world.
via Collider