- Breaking Bad helped make Bob Odenkirk a worldwide star
- He played slick-talking lawyer Saul Goodman
- However, there was another actor considered for the role
Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul helped to make a household name of comedian-turned-dramatic actor Bob Odenkirk. However, things very nearly turned out much differently.
In fact, the role almost went to an actor who later appeared in the spin-off series Better Call Saul and if he’d have bagged it, it would’ve changed the fate of both series.
Read more: Better Call Saul sets unwanted Emmy’s record
Odenkirk played the slick-talking lawyer Saul Goodman in season two of Breaking Bad. The character proved to be such a hit with viewers that he got his own spin-off in 2015.
With that show celebrating its 10th anniversary, a new book aims to tell Saul’s full story while shedding some new light on insider information regarding the series.
Read more: Bob Odenkirk revealed to be related to King Charles III
Penned by journalist Alan Sepinwall, it’s in this book – entitled Saul Goodman v. Jimmy McGill: The Complete Critical Companion to Better Call Saul – where this casting trivia first appears.
While speaking to the show’s co-creator and co-showrunner Peter Gould, Sepinwall learned that a bunch of different actors auditioned for the role. While many of those names remain a mystery – one was revealed: Michael McKean.
Who almost played Saul Goodman?
Fans of all things Breaking Bad will know that McKean went on to play Jimmy McGill’s brother Chuck in Better Call Saul, before his younger sibling became Saul Goodman.
However, as Gould told Sepinwall, it’s hard to imagine this role reversal now that we can see each actor’s performances.
“McKean was so great at playing Jimmy’s mortal enemy that it’s tough to imagine him as Jimmy himself,” explained Gould.
Chuck was Jimmy’s older brother and a well respected lawyer before a battle with obsessive compulsive disorder derails his career. Despite being initially receptive to his sibling’s decision to ditch a life of petty crime for a law career, things soon turn sour between Jimmy and Chuck.
Saul Goodman almost didn’t appear in Breaking Bad
Elsewhere in the same book, Sepinwall revealed that Saul Goodman almost didn’t appear in Breaking Bad at all. Despite having debuted in Breaking Bad’s second season, Gould revealed that an executive at AMC tried to convince the show’s writing team to ditch the character altogether.
The request arrived at a time where he was worried already that they’d written a character that was too silly for Breaking Bad’s tone.
“My fear was actually enhanced when we had our first notes call with an executive who will remain nameless,” explained Gould. “Vince and I were on a conference call, and the question came up, basically, “We don’t like this character. Could we start again and come up with a different story for this episode?”
And Vince said, “No.” He was strongly advocating for the script and for the character. And, to their credit, the person or persons on the call backed down, because they had to trust Vince. But, you can think about what an alternative universe would be where we had had to throw that episode out.”
