Bryan Cranston is widely recognized for his role as Walter White in Breaking Bad, perhaps the most iconic of all his works in his entire career. It’s baffling to think that he was not the first choice for the character that he so perfectly embodied, almost leaving fans wondering which other actors could play the part with such conviction.
Breaking Bad was a massive success, even hailed as one of the greatest television series of all time. Cranston’s character as the chemistry teacher-turned-meth dealer won him three consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, a feat that is very rare among Hollywood stars.
AMC Initially Did Not Want Bryan Cranston As Walter White In Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan was so impressed with Bryan Cranston’s work in The X-Files, but that was not enough for the studio to pick the actor for the lead role. The executives at AMC and Sony Pictures Television were doubtful of his acting skills after he notably starred in numerous comedy projects. Still, Gilligan did not give up. He told The Hollywood Reporter:
“We needed somebody who could be dramatic and scary yet have an underlying humanity so when he dies, you felt sorry for him. Bryan nailed it.”
John Cusack and Matthew Broderick were the top picks for the role of Walter White, and both actors reportedly passed on the offer. They were the ones the studios badly wanted, and they were so disappointed when they declined.
After rigorous convincing, with Gilligan even showing the tape of Cranston’s X-Files episode to the higher-ups, they agreed. Former AMC VP of Production Vlad Wolynetz said:
“We pushed for him to be 50 because at 40 he’s a little too young to have this crisis. It was just so much more impactful to have him a little bit older.”
Meanwhile, Cranston took the job because he saw it as a challenge to his acting skills as well as a breather from all the roles he has done before. He also claimed that money was never a factor when he said yes to the project:
“I wanted a change of pace, and whether that meant a comedy or drama, it was going to be different because I didn’t need the money anymore. And I never wanted to be in a position where I should make a creative decision based on financial need. I didn’t want a ‘job.’ I didn’t need to work ever again.”
Breaking Bad’s viewership skyrocketed after the first three seasons were added to Netflix’s library ahead of the release of Season 4.
ALSO READ: “Everything went right”: Bryan Cranston’s Favorite Breaking Bad Scene Broke Millions of Hearts
Breaking Bad Was Rejected By Actors And Networks
While John Cusack was on the initial list of potential Walter White actors, he claimed that the role was never directly offered to him. This rumor has been circulating for a very long time, and he confirmed that he did not turn it down.
Both he and Matthew Broderick were given the scripts to read with the idea that if the part appealed to them, they were automatically in. It is unknown if they actually read through the draft, but that’s not significant anymore since fans already have Bryan Cranston who was actually passionate about being Walter White.
With the success of Breaking Bad, it’s hard to believe that a lot of networks also passed on it. HBO, Showtime, and FX all rejected the show before it found a home on AMC.
