Walter White’s story may have ended years ago, but Bryan Cranston isn’t entirely ruling out the idea of bringing the character back. ‘The Breaking Bad‘ star recently hinted that if the right story came along, he would be open to returning to the role that defined his career, and his comments come just as series creator Vince Gilligan offered his own reflections on the show’s enduring legacy.
Bryan Cranston Opens Up About the Next Phase Of Walter White’s Journey
Bryan Cranston’s transformation of Walter White, a high-school chemistry teacher turned meth kingpin, in AMC’s Breaking Bad. The role earned him global acclaim, along with multiple Emmy Awards, and later led to brief reappearances in the spinoff Better Call Saul. His most recent turn as Walter came in a corn chip commercial during the 2023 Super Bowl, which was billed as his “final” appearance as the iconic character.
In a new interview with The Times, Cranston discussed whether he might ever step into Walter’s shoes again, even though the show’s 2013 finale appeared to bring the character’s journey to a definitive end.
The actor made it clear he hadn’t completely dismissed the idea. “I don’t know, I mean it,” he said. He explained that while he wasn’t pursuing it, he wasn’t shutting the door either. Cranston said he would only consider returning if the idea was exceptional. It’s something that would make him think, “Oh my, what a great idea.” Otherwise, he believed it best to let Walter go and allow everyone to move forward.
Cranston’s remarks reignited conversations among fans about the possibility of expanding the Breaking Bad universe once again; conversations that have also reached the show’s creator, Vince Gilligan.
Vince Gilligan OnTthe Future Of ‘Breaking Bad’ Universe
Just days before Cranston’s interview, Gilligan had spoken to The Hollywood Reporter while promoting his new Apple TV+ series Pluribus. He expressed deep affection for Breaking Bad and its world, but also admitted he wanted to explore new creative territory. He said that while Walter White would likely always be the first thing people mention in his obituary, he now hoped to write about heroes again, characters who aim to do the right thing rather than lose themselves to darkness.
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Gilligan said there were many potential ways to revive ‘The Breaking Bad‘ or spin off new stories. However, he confessed that he was hesitant to risk damaging the legacy of what his team had already built. He called his cast “a murderer’s row of actors“. He spoke fondly of working with talents such as Giancarlo Esposito, Jonathan Banks, Dean Norris, Jesse Plemons, and Rhea Seehorn, who now stars in Pluribus.
In fact, Gilligan noted that nearly any major player from either ‘The Breaking Bad‘ or ‘Better Call Saul‘ could successfully lead a new series. Despite acknowledging the potential for more stories, Gilligan said he was content with what they had achieved. He admitted that he didn’t want to “mess up people’s memories” of ‘The Breaking Bad‘ or ‘Better Call Saul‘.
Gilligan emphasized that after twenty years spent building the Breaking Bad universe, he felt grateful but ready for change. He said he would rather leave “a little money on the table” and keep fans wanting more. There’s no need to take the risk of disappointing them with an unnecessary continuation. He explained that he preferred to let Breaking Bad end on a high note rather than diminishing its reputation.
