With the spin-off to AMC’s Breaking Bad currently in the works, there is a steady drip-feed of information being released about the hotly anticipated series. Better Call Saul, as the prequel/sequel is officially entitled, will feature Saul Goodman as the main protagonist - the sharp-tongued lawyer, known for his cheap commercials, colorful billboard ads and catchphrase.
Viral Global News has taken the opportunity to compile a rundown of everything we know about Better Call Saul, from concrete facts to information spilling from the rumor mill.
Warning: spoilers for Breaking Bad ahead; read on at your own risk. Please note, with production of Better Call Saul still in the preliminary stages, the show’s creators have explicitly stated that nothing is set in stone.
A More Comedy Orientated Plotline
Numerous reports indicate Better Call Saul will feature a more comedy orientated plotline than it’s Breaking Bad counterpart. Played by Bob Odenkirk, Saul Goodman’s acerbic nature provided fans with bucket loads of dark humor. Also, considering Odenkirk has a background in comedy - having co-created and co-starred in HBO’s sketch comedy, Mr. Show with Bob and David - it’s hardly surprising the Saul‘s inceptors would take the series in this direction.
Although Gilligan is back onboard, he will not be assuming direct control of the series. That job rests in the hands of writer and producer Peter Gould, who served as a story editor for Breaking Bad and wrote the first season’s episode, A No-Rough-Stuff-Type Deal. During Bad‘s follow-up season, Gould was promoted to executive story editor, writing second season episodes Better Call Saul and Bit by a Dead Bee.
Say My Name writer Tom Schnauz will join Gould. Schnauz has been credited with working on a number of high-profile television series, including The X-Files and The Lone Gunmen; of course, he also contributed in scriptwriting some of the final throes of the Breaking Bad plot, in 2012 and 2013.
The exact details of Better Call Saul‘s story remain unconfirmed, and rampant speculation and rumor continues to be bandied around by mainstream media outlets. However, Odenkirk recently spoke of his personal understanding of the show’s premise. Based upon conversations with the show’s creators, Odenkirk claims the show could be a hybrid between a prequel and a sequel. However, he added that Gilligan and Gould had also talked about a straight prequel, as well as a straight sequel.
Following an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Gilligan talked about Saul being predominately prequel-based, with a slightly splintered chronology; he suggests, despite continuing to thrash out a number of ideas, that the audience will “… see the past and perhaps the future.” Gilligan then went on to emphasize that Saul, generally speaking, would adopt a more light-hearted approach, before explaining the potential, unintended consequence of such a move - drama becomes increasingly “tricky.” Gilligan - who is also busy planning a police drama called Battle Creek - claims his writing team are keen to “address” this problem.
‘Better Call Saul’ Set in Albuquerque
On May 15, the New Mexico Film Office announced that Better Call Saul would be filmed at Albuquerque Studios - the same location Breaking Bad was shot. The group also confirmed that the production team would consist of between 75 and 90 crewmembers.
The city mayor, Richard Berry, said he and the rest of Albuquerque welcomed Sony and AMC-TV’s return to the area, praising the original series for boosting local tourism:
“Given the tremendous acclaim associated with Vince Gilligan’s productions, we are thrilled to learn that Better Call Saul will be filmed in Albuquerque.”
After recently speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Gilligan made it clear he wanted to get most of the old team back together for the project. When discussing Better Call Saul‘s production, The 47-year-old former X-files writer said he wanted its organization to be similar to that of Bad‘s, in a bid to recapture the magic of the “… pre-existing fictional universe that we had so much fun creating.”
More specifically, recent rumor has it that Saul will also feature some courtroom drama. Gould has already admitted that he has attended a number of courtroom sessions, as part of the research process.
Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston Ready to Make a Return?
Although it’s not even been a year since Aaron Paul finished his six-year stint as Breaking Bad‘s foul-mouthed, drug-addled delinquent, Jesse Pinkman, the Need for Speed star has expressed his interest in making a return.
While attending the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award ceremony, Paul expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming spin-off. Speaking to the British press, he indicated his desire to play a more care-free version of Pinkman, as he was during “happier times.”
During an interview with Entertainment Wise, the Emmy Award winner said he had spent an afternoon with the scriptwriters and took the opportunity to peek at the storyboards. Paul explained that Better Call Saul would be an entirely different beast to Bad. “It just follows the Saul Goodman character and I think it’s going to be very exciting to dive deeper into his world,” argued the 34-year-old actor.
In October 2013, Gilligan said he would “have a hard time resisting” using a number of Breaking Bad characters, including Paul and Cranston, for cameo appearances.
Meanwhile, other Bad stars have also hinted at their return. Actress Anna Gunn, who played Skyler White, recently alluded to a possible reprisal. One of the infamous Breaking Bad “cousins,” Leonel (Daniel Moncada), recently seemed to tease fans of his return in a rather foreboding tweet.
As one of the twins hired by the Juárez Cartel, Moncada was known for his imposing, physical appearance, uncommunicative nature and murderous tendencies.
Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut and ‘The Rise of Gus’
Breaking Bad‘s resident hard-ass private investigator, hitman and fixer - Mike Ehrmantraut - will feature heavily in Better Call Saul. Played by Jonathan Banks, it’s possible Mike can offer the series the much-needed drama Gilligan and Gould are worried about losing. However, Banks’ aptitude for delivering comedic lines in deadpan fashion will also prove essential to the path the writing team are said to be carving out; this was nicely demonstrated when Banks played Professor Buzz Hickey in the NBC sitcom Community.
Mike was a rough-and-ready associate of Gustavo Fring (Giancarlo Esposito), but also had connections with Goodman and Walter White, often running errands for the pair.
Speaking of Fring, the actor behind the prolific businessman and meth distributor recently conducted an interview, in which he expressed considerable interest in developing his character further. Esposito explained that two prequel options were originally on the table: Better Call Saul and The Rise of Gus. Having been approached to star in Call Saul, the American actor, director and producer said he would only consider returning if he were included in several episodes, before reiterating his desire to create a Gustavo-inspired spin-off.
New Characters
A slew of new characters have already been announced. On May 8, Deadline.com released an exclusive that indicated the following characters would make an appearance in Call Saul:
- Beth (Rhea Seehorn)
- Burt (Patrick Fabian)
- Eddie (Michael Mando)
Early reports suggest Fabian and Seehorn will play prestigious lawyers. Details on each of the characters is relatively scant, but it appears that Beth will be shown pursuing a relationship with someone within her firm, while Burt will be a major partner of a legal firm.
Fabian has appeared in a number of television series, including Saved by the Bell: The College Years, Veronica Mars, Big Love and Grey’s Anatomy. Seehorn - another veteran television actor - has enjoyed successes in Franklin & Bash and House of Lies.
Meanwhile, as Eddie, Mando will assume the role of a subversive and cunning criminal, who will, presumably, be in dire need of legal representation. The Canadian actor achieved fame after starring in BBC America’s sci-fi drama Orphan Black, in which he played a sleazy drug-dealer. He also played the maniacal character Vaas Montenegro in the Ubisoft video game Far Cry 3.
Complementing Odenkirk’s comedic roots, Michael McKean is also slated to join Better Call Saul‘s roster of actors. The 66-year-old film, television and Broadway star will play Dr. Thurber - an attorney who is said to possess an “unusual affliction.”
The November Release Date and Netflix
Although the precise premiere date for Better Call Saul remains unknown, AMC has confirmed that it will be arriving sometime in November 2014. After a deal was secured between Sony Pictures Television and Netflix, Saul will be available in all territories where the popular on-demand Internet streaming service is available.
