Josh Hartnett Credits the 'City of Chicago' for Keeping His “The Bear ”Season 3 Cameo Secret: 'Really Protective'

The actor stars as Richie's ex-wife's new fiancé in episode 4 of the new season

Fans of The Bear were in for a treat when Josh Hartnett appeared mid-way through season 3 — and he's shouting out the show's home base for keeping their lips sealed!

The actor, 45, joined the cast as Frank — the new fiancé of Richie's (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) ex-wife Tiffany (Gillian Jacobs) — and he told The Hollywood Reporter that he signed on for the part "before [he] even read the script."

"I said yes right away," Hartnett admitted, as he was keen to work with The Bear's creator, Chris Storer, who is a longtime friend of his.

When it came to actually getting on set and filming, the actor praised Storer, who also directs the show, for his precision, as he said the cast, which also includes Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri, "really trust [his] process."

Related: Josh Hartnett Is Having a Moment: Check Out 4 of His Hottest Teen People Covers and His Adorably Awkward Quotes

Along with Storer, Hartnett had a lot of good things to say about the city of Chicago itself, which is where the series is based and has been filmed over the last three seasons.

"I felt like the city of Chicago was really protective of The Bear," he told the outlet. "People there love that show, and it feels like it’s an unwritten rule that you don’t spoil it. And certainly, nobody who is on the show wants to spoil it. It’s so much more fun to have that last-minute reveal."

Hartnett said that he told his parents about the cameo "because they love the show," as well as a "couple of friends" who are also big fans. But as he tends to keep a pretty low-key circle around him — and he stays off social media — he felt like, "Who am I really going to tell?"

White, Edebiri and Moss-Bachrach are known for being particularly close both on set and off, and Hartnett said that the close-knit dynamic permeates the whole set.

"I have to say that they have so much fun making that show," he told THR. "It shouldn't be called work. Actors just come to set and hang out even on their days off. It feels like a group of friends making a show at university or something. Yet it's this phenomenal success."

Related: The Bear’s Matty Matheson Reveals Hilarious First Encounter with Jamie Lee Curtis: ‘Now We’re Friends!’

Season 3 of the hit FX series sees Carmy (White), Sydney (Edebiri) and Richie do whatever it takes "to elevate The Bear, their beef stand turned fine-dining establishment, to the highest level, all while doing their best just to stay in business," per an official synopsis.

Along with Hartnett, John Cena is among the other notable cameos in the show's third installment. Jamie Lee Curtis, John Mulaney, Will Poulter and Olivia Colman all reprised their roles.

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The Bear season 3 is now streaming on Hulu.

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