‘Breaking Bad’ Spin-Off Update: Bob Odenkirk Says ‘Better Call Saul’ Is ‘Total Drama’
AMC's "Better Call Saul," which is scheduled to premiere in Feb. 2015, is one of the most anticipated shows of next year. It is a spin-off of cult drama series "Breaking Bad." Bob Odenkirk is returning to reprise his "Breaking Bad" role as Saul Goodman. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter (THR), the actor has said that his new show is going to be a "total drama."
Odenkirk said that "Better Call Saul" is "total drama, man. It's 85 percent drama, 15 percent comedy." According to THR, Peter Gould and Vince Gilligan, creators of "Better Call Saul," were planning to make the show a half an hour comedy. However, the show will now air as an hour-long drama.
"Better Call Saul" is set in the year 2002, which is six years before Walter White (Bryan Cranston) met Saul Goodman. The show will open with Goodman as Jimmy McGill, the real name of the criminal lawyer. The new series will show the transformation of McGill, a small-time lawyer looking for his destiny, into Goodman. Jonathan Banks is returning to reprise his role as Mike Ehrmantraut.
The new season will also feature Goodman's brother, Chuck McGill. Michael McKean has been roped in to play the character of the brother. Also, Rhea Seehorn has signed on to play the role of Kim, Patrick Fabian has been roped in to play Hamlin and Michael Mando is going to portray Nacho.
Now that he is playing a leading role, Odenkirk believes that he can dig deeper into his character. As a secondary character in "Breaking Bad, Saul Goodman had to just react and the character did not have much depth. The actor told THR, "One of the cool things about playing Saul now is that I get to have those moments (making "decisions that are motivated by the personality or psychology of the person"). I've certainly gotten a chance to dig deep in Better Call Saul."
The first season of "Better Call Saul" will consist of 10-episodes. AMC has already renewed the show for Season 2, which consists of 13-episodes.