Bryan Cranston Shuts Down Hopes of a ‘Breaking Bad’ Spinoff
Better Call Saul wrapped up its six season run in 2022, nearly a decade after Breaking Bad aired its 2013 season finale. But given that the AMC series is often called one of the most popular TV shows of all time, fans are still clamoring for more. However, following the series of events that took place in 2019’s El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, it seems likely that the door is closed for good, as Bryan Cranston revealed in a recent interview.
While Cranston is a bit more optimistic about a Malcolm in the Middle reunion, he feels less enthusiastic about revisiting the character of Walter White. “It would be fun to explore these boys who are now grown-ups with kids of their own, I’m open to that,” the 67-year-old told Entertainment Tonight, adding that while there has been “some conversation,” nothing has been definitive about reviving the Fox comedy.
As a follow-up question, Cranston was asked how it felt to see another chapter of Breaking Bad come to an end with Better Call Saul, and whether he’s spoken with series star Bib Odenkirk.
“We see each other occasionally and bump onto each other, it’s always a good mix,” he said of his former costar, before nipping any speculation in the bud.
“But everything should come to an end, you know?” he continued. “Everything’s cyclical. Our lives are cyclical. The seasons, trees, everything. And, so, it’s OK to have a beginning, middle, and end, and then let it go. And I’m proud of what we did.”
Cranston’s words echo series creator Vince Gilligan, who told Variety in 2023 in no uncertain terms that returning to the Breaking Bad universe was likely off the table.
“It’s fun thinking about what would happen to the characters, but it doesn’t rise to the level of, ‘Gee, I’d like to tell more about the story,'” Gilligan said. “But who knows, in a few years maybe.”
“When Breaking Bad ends, it’s not a very happy ending for those characters at all, but it is presented that their lives go on. I’d like to believe things get better for them. I’d hate the thought of Walt Jr. following in Walt’s footsteps in the crime business,” he continued. “That’s probably the kind of thing somebody will pitch 10 or 15 years from now—Walter Jr. as an Albuquerque crime lord succeeding where his father failed. I could pretty much guarantee right now that I have no interest in seeing that happen. That’d be a sad tribute to the show.”
“That is doubtful as hell,” he added, on the possibility of a “Heisenberg Jr.” spinoff. “The only attractive thing about that idea is working with RJ Mitte again because he’s a wonderful actor and sweet guy. But that would be depressing as hell. That would be the wrong lesson from the show, if there are any lessons at all to be gleaned from it.”
