When AMC first announced its Breaking Bad spinoff, Better Call Saul, it was called a prequel that would focus on the evolution of Bob Odenkirk’s Saul Goodman character before he became Walter White’s lawyer. Now, answering TV critics’ questions about reports the sequel will jump around in time, as had Breaking Bad, exec producer Vince Gilligan responded:
“I think the best way to answer this is that you saw, from Breaking Bad, we like nonlinear storytelling. I would definitely point you in the direction of anything that is possible on Breaking Bad is possible on Better Call Saul. It’s fun for us to be as nonlinear as possible.”
Gilligan did reveal that the series will have as its base the start year of 2002, six years before the events in Breaking Bad:
“I hesitate to say it, but it is indeed a period piece,” he said. “I can’t believe it myself — it’s like it was yesterday, but it was 12 years ago.”
When asked which characters from that beloved series they could expect to see brought back in the first season of Saul. Gilligan and exec producer/writer Peter Gould said they are now working on Episode 8 and have yet to bring back anyone. Gould explained:
“We’re trying to make something that stands on its own, that has entertainment value not just as seeing a series of old favorites or “remember when” – not the series equivalent of a clip show.”
Gilligan added ominously:
“We’re still feeling our way through this…figuring out if and when — when and if — to see some of these characters.”
What about an appearance by Bryan Cranston’s Walter White:
Gilligan:
“First and foremost because he’s a wonderful person.”
Gould added:
“He’s also a great director.”
When pressed Gilligan would only say:
“Maybe there is a way to make it work…”
Gilligan also says the recent delay of the show’s premiere from late 2014 to early 2015 was due to his own slow writing:
“We had a pace, thanks to AMC and Sony, on Breaking Bad that was deliciously stately for television. We averaged three weeks just for breaking episodes. Not a surprise to me, we’re doing same with Better Call Saul and we feel that pays dividends. With Breaking Bad, people said that seemed to knit together pretty well…So here we are again, doing same.”
The official synopsis for Better Call Saul:
“The series is set six years before Saul Goodman meets Walter White. When we meet him, the man who will become Saul Goodman is known as Jimmy McGill, a small-time lawyer searching for his destiny, and, more immediately, hustling to make ends meet. Working alongside, and, often, against Jimmy, is “fixer” Mike Ehrmantraut, a beloved character introduced in Breaking Bad. The series will track Jimmy’s transformation into Saul Goodman, the man who puts “criminal” in “Criminal lawyer.” The series’ tone is dramatic, wove with dark humor.”
In addition to Odenkirk, the network confirmed the line-up of series regulars. Jonathan Banks (Breaking Bad, Community) as “fixer” Mike Erhmantraut, Michael McKean (This is Spinal Tap) as Chuck, Goodman’s or in this case McGill’s brother, Rhea Seehorn (Franklin & Bash, House of Lies) as Kim, Patrick Fabian (Big Love, Grey’s Anatomy) as Hamlin and Michael Mando (Orphan Black, The Killing) as Nacho – characters that will represent both legitimate and illegitimate sides of the law.
Better Call Saul, despite not premiering until early 2015, has already been picked up for 23 episodes over two seasons. The debut season will consist of 10 episodes, and the second season of 13 episodes.
Source: IGN
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