Ebon Moss-Bachrach says he’s been thinking about The Bear’s Gary prequel for over 5 years – and teases resolution to that brutal [SPOILER] cliffhanger

by

*Warning – contains spoilers for The Bear prequel episode Gary.*

The surprise prequel episode of The Bear, titled “Gary,” featuring and co-written by Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Jon Bernthal, felt unexpected for viewers. However, for the actors involved, it was a project they’d been developing for quite some time.

Jon and I discussed this quite a bit, probably around the third season,” Moss-Bachrach shared in a conversation with TopMob, alongside Jon Bernthal.

When we spoke with Chris about it, he already knew what we wanted to say. Before we could even begin, he told us he’d really like us to write an episode featuring just the two of us, showing us spending a day together.

We hung up the phone feeling stunned and incredibly inspired by Chris’s bold challenge. It was a turning point, and we immediately started working with full energy and enthusiasm.

The special episode of The Bear, titled ‘Gary,’ unexpectedly appeared on Disney+ on May 5th. It follows Richie and Mikey on a work trip to Gary, Indiana, before the events of the main series. This episode is particularly poignant because it reveals more about Mikey’s struggles and state of mind leading up to his death in season one, and also shows what Richie was like when the show began.

Moss Bachrach described the prequel’s writing process as a flood of ideas. He explained that developing a character requires a lot of imagination, and he’d been considering this particular story even before filming began on the first episode.

The original pilot was filmed back in July 2021, so Scott Moss-Bachrach has been thinking about this project for quite a while now.

As a film buff, I always start by asking ‘Who is this person on screen? What drove them?’ That’s what we really tried to capture with this story. The central couple clearly had a deep, complex history – they knew each other better than anyone else in the main character’s life, honestly. So, when it came time to actually write the script, the ideas just poured out – both for me and my co-writer, Jon. It felt like we were simply documenting a life that was already fully formed.

Bernthal shared how happy he was to hear the news, recalling that both he and Chris vividly remember the moment Chris gave them the go-ahead to move forward with the project.

Immediately after it happened, we were both like excited kids, just saying, ‘Can you believe this?’ We never once worried about how to make it work. It was always about building on the excitement – just ‘Let’s do this, let’s keep going!’ The whole experience was incredibly creative and fulfilling, and honestly, there wasn’t a single tough day on set.

Moss-Bachrach didn’t want to discuss the episode’s ending, which jumped ahead in time to show Richie involved in a serious car crash.

When asked about the finale and what it implies for Richie’s future, Moss-Bachrach playfully avoided giving a direct answer, saying he couldn’t say much.

However, he did tease: “I don’t know, I think all will be revealed.”

Want to see this content?

This page uses a security feature called Google reCAPTCHA. We need your permission to load it because reCAPTCHA might use cookies and similar technologies. If you want to see the content, please select ‘Accept and continue’ to enable reCAPTCHA.

Okay, so after seeing Gary hit Disney+, we finally have a date for the last season of The Bear! Mark your calendars, folks – season five is dropping on Friday, June 26th, 2026, here in the UK. It’s a bit of a wait, but knowing it’s coming gives me some comfort!

The main cast—Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, Moss-Bachrach, Abby Elliott, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, and Matty Matheson—will all be back for another season. Additionally, Ricky Staffieri, Oliver Platt, Will Poulter, and Jamie Lee Curtis will reprise their roles.

All four seasons of The Bear, plus the character Gary, are now streaming on Disney+ in the UK. You can subscribe to Disney+ for as little as £5.99 per month.

Don’t miss out on ‘The Bear’! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob ‘What to Watch’ app. Download the app today for daily TV recommendations and exclusive content.

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

I’m a big fan of James Hibbs’ work! He’s a Drama Writer at TopMob, and he really knows his stuff when it comes to TV – everything from shows on streaming services to traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he had a fascinating career in PR, working for both a business-focused agency and the international production company, Fremantle. He’s clearly well-educated too, with a BA in English and Theatre Studies, plus a professional journalism qualification – an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma.

  • Visit us on Twitter

Read More

2026-05-11 19:06