‘The Bear’ Fans Crown Will Poulter Season 2’s Hot Chef

By Nicole Gallucci Twitter @nicolemichele5

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The critically acclaimed FX series that turned the phrase “YES, CHEF” from professional kitchen lingo into a delightful display of horniness is back for a second season, and there’s a new Hot Chef in town. Or rather, there’s a new Hot Chef in Copenhagen.

When Season 1 of The Bear dropped in June 2022, the talented Jeremy Allen White (with an assist from his perfectly unruly curls and piercing blue eyes) sparked what came to be known as Hot Chef Summer. Fans spent months salivating over Carmy and his fellow Chicago-based chefs, and though love for them remains in Season 2, fans are hungry for a new hot, charming, tattooed pastry chef who appears in Episode 4, “Honeydew.”

In the Ramy Youssef-directed episode, Chef Luca — played by 30-year-old British actor Will Poulter — welcomes Marcus (Lionel Boyce) into his Copenhagen kitchen to elevate his baking game and ensure he’s inspired and educated before The Bear’s opening. At first, Chef Luca seems like a strict, no-nonsense teacher devoid of personality. But as the episode progresses, he sees Marcus’ deep desire to learn, opens up to him, and becomes a genuinely insightful and inspiring mentor.

The Bear‘s viewers may know Poulter from The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Maze Runner, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, Midsommar, Dopesick, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and a number of other projects over the years. But as Luca and his tattooed forearms expertly navigated the kitchen, joked about Michael Jordan, and got deep with Marcus while slicing and weighing dough, it was clear he was no longer the nerdy kid hilariously rapping “Waterfalls” in We’re the Millers. He was a Hot Chef.

Though Poulter only guest stars in one Season 2 episode, we see him again in Episode 7, “Forks,” when Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) trains at Noma for a week and notices a framed photo of Carmy and Luca on the wall. And in the finale, Marcus opens a thoughtful gift from Poulter on The Bear’s opening night.

Can’t get enough of The Bear Season 2? For more insight, analysis, GIFs, and close-ups of Carmy’s arms, check out all of Decider’s episodic recaps:

When asked about Luca in an interview with Vanity Fair, Boyce said, “He is like the other side of Carmy. You immediately see the history, and you can play out how their interactions were when they’re younger.” So here’s hoping we can see more of Poulter in a potential Season 3. Give us another flashback episode, then fly that man to Chicago ASAP.

The Bear Season 2 is now streaming on Hulu.