Walking Dead alum reprises Mikey in new FX and Hulu release
Summary
– Jon Bernthal returned as Mikey in a surprise episode of The Bear
– The standalone episode, titled Gary, was released on May 5 on Hulu
– The flashback story focuses on Mikey and Richie before the main series timeline
Jon Bernthal made a surprise return to The Bear in a newly released standalone episode from FX and Hulu.
Bernthal, who many fans know as Shane Walsh from The Walking Dead, returned as Michael “Mikey” Berzatto in the episode titled Gary. The special release arrived on May 5 ahead of The Bear’s fifth and final season.
The episode shifts away from the present-day restaurant story and moves into the past. It follows Richie, played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Mikey during a work trip to Gary, Indiana.
Gary gives viewers a deeper look at Richie and Mikey’s complicated friendship before the events of the main series. Mikey has remained one of the show’s most important figures, even though his story is mostly told through flashbacks and memories.
Bernthal and Moss-Bachrach also co-wrote the episode. The Bear creator Christopher Storer directed the installment, giving the surprise release a strong creative connection to the show’s main team.
The episode runs about 59 minutes, making it longer than a typical installment of The Bear. It gives fans more time with Mikey and Richie while adding emotional weight before the final season begins.
The Bear follows Carmy Berzatto, played by Jeremy Allen White, after he returns to Chicago to run his late brother’s sandwich shop. Mikey’s death remains central to the series, shaping the characters and the restaurant’s future.
Season 5 of The Bear is set to premiere on June 25. With the final season approaching, Bernthal’s return as Mikey gives fans another meaningful look at one of the show’s most important relationships.
