Bryan Cranston spent five years redefining the TV space in the show Breaking Bad, where he played the role of the chemistry teacher-turned-drug lord Walter White. The actor won the Primetime Emmy Award four times for performing in the legendary show and he has now become synonymous with the character of White.
Cranston has since tried to diversify his portfolio after the end of Breaking Bad. He has featured in films like Argo, Drive, and Godzilla. The latter was a huge blockbuster, grossing over $529 million at the box office. However, Cranston was initially apprehensive about joining the film as he was scared of his reputation as a serious actor.
Bryan Cranston In Godzilla
After an underwhelming attempt in 1998 with the Matthew Broderick starrer Godzilla, an American adaptation of the popular kaiju story began development after Legendary Pictures acquired the rights. The film was officially in production in 2011 after Gareth Edwards, then known for the indie hit Monsters, was chosen as the director.
The film starred Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen, and Bryan Cranston in lead roles and was a huge hit upon release. The film earned $529 million at the global box office and prompted the launch of the MonsterVerse, a shared cinematic universe. The film was planned to share a universe with Legendary’s new King Kong films.
Cranston played the role of Joe Brody, the father of Taylor-Johnson’s Ford Brody. The actor revealed that he chose to appear in the film after he was convinced by Gareth Edwards’ vision for the film and that he was a fan of Godzilla as a child. He filmed for Godzilla days after he finished filming the final season of Breaking Bad.
After the success of Godzilla, Legendary quickly commissioned a sequel and a King Kong film, the latter of which, titled Kong: Skull Island would lead to a team-up film. The sequel, Godzilla: King of Monsters and Godzilla Vs Kong starrer Millie Bobby Brown. Cranston did not return for the sequels.
Bryan Cranston Was Initially Apprehensive About Joining Godzilla
Bryan Cranston ruled the TV screens for five years as he played the legendary Walter White in the crime series Breaking Bad. His role as a high-school chemistry teacher, who turns to a life of crime after he is diagnosed with lung cancer was widely acclaimed. Many appreciated the gradual turn of the character’s victimhood to moral decay in the five-season arc written by creator Vince Gilligan.
Cranston starred in the series along with Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, and Bob Odenkirk. The show was constantly appraised by critics and audiences alike, winning the Golden Globe Award for Best TV Series-Drama and Best Actor in a TV Series-Drama. The show also won sixteen Primetime Emmy Awards, with Bryan Cranston winning the Outstanding Actor Award four times.
Cranston revealed that he was apprehensive about joining the cast of Godzilla right after his final appearance as Walter White in Breaking Bad. He mentioned in a statement to CBS News that he was worried about the comparison being drawn on both roles and that he almost turned it down as he thought it was too silly. He said,
“[I was] worried that people might compare the two roles and say, “Oh, that’s not anywhere near as good as ‘Breaking Bad.’ I didn’t want to have that conversation.”
He later mentioned that he was urged by his agent to read the script of Godzilla, after which he was surprised by the writing and finally accepted the role.
