The Bear Star Discusses Season 3’s ‘Bigger Than Life’ John Cena Cameo

The Bear‘s third season (which recently released on Hulu) brings with it some big guest stars, one of whom Matty Matheson (Neil Fak in The Bear) couldn’t stop gushing over. The Bear has become known for its guest stars. Season 1 introduced Joel McHale’s detestable head chef, while Season 2 threw multiple A-listers and celebrities into the mix. Jamie Lee Curtis, John Mulaney, Olivia Coleman, Bob Odenkirk, and Will Poulter all joined The Bear as part of the Berzatto family and figures from Carmen’s (Jeremy Allen White) past.

Beware spoilers for The Bear Season 3

The Bear

3.5/5

Set in a Chicago sandwich shop, The Bear follows Carmy Berzatto, a young professionally trained chef who returns to take over his family business after the unexpected death of his brother. At odds with many of the shop’s employees due to his culinary training, Carmy struggles to maintain order and keep the shop from failing entirely. Jeremy Allen White stars as Carmy alongside Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Ayo Edebiri. 

Release Date

June 23, 2022

Seasons

3

Creator

Christopher Storer

One actor few were expecting to appear in Season 3 of The Bear is WWE and Peacemaker star, John Cena. Speaking to Variety, Matty Matheson discussed John Cena’s surprising cameo in the show’s third season. Cena plays Neil’s brother, as the show introduces another of the mysterious and eccentric Fak family (a long-running joke in the series). During the interview, Matheson described working with John Cena on the show, and talked about the time he brought his son to set to meet him. Matheson said:

“He came in and was so professional, so dialed. It was a trip. My son, who is 8, is always doing that ‘You can’t see me’ Cena thing. He’s bigger than life. He was reading in between takes, and we were all like, ‘What’s that book on his chair?’ He was reading, like, literally a medical doctrine on neurology. It was crazy.”

Matty Matheson Describes Working With Jamie Lee Curtis

Of all the guest stars The Bear has had so far, and there are many, Jamie Lee Curtis is perhaps the biggest and most memorable. The Halloween star plays Donna Berzatto, the matriarch of the Berzatto family. Curtis first appears in the lauded Season 2 episode ‘Fishes’, which shows an incredibly stressful Berzatto Christmas dinner. Matheson worked alongside Curtis on the episode, and their characters share a surprisingly touching moment in the third season. During ther conversation, Matheson described meeting the actress for the first time, saying:

“It’s crazy. The first time I saw Jamie was at the Golden Globes or something, before she came on the second season. We were in the ballroom, and there weren’t a lot of people in there. I called Chris and was like, ‘Can I just go up and say hello to her?’ And he was like, ‘For sure! Go say what’s up!’ As I was walking up to her, she pointed at me and was like, ‘I know who the f*ck you are! Get over here!’ We just hit it off. She’s so sweet. She’s our big mama. She hangs with us the whole time, even when she’s not on screen.”

Related

The Bear’s Season 3 Debut Wasn’t What Anyone Expected, and That’s Why It Was Perfect

A welcome respite from the usually fast-paced, energetic episodes, the first episode of The Bear Season 3 was like Carmy’s career retrospective.

Season 3 of The Bear dropped just days ago on Hulu, and has been met with mixed opinions from fans. While Seasons 1 and 2 were incredibly well received by critics and audiences, Season 3 has become a little more divisive. Some fans believe the new season is too much style over substance, while others praise Christopher Storer’s (the show’s creator) experimentation and unique approach to the new season.