Penn Badgley is now popularly known for his starring role in the Netflix psychological thriller series You. His performance as Joe Goldberg has now become his career-defining role and his biggest success as an actor. The actor is also known for playing Dan Humphrey in CW’s Gossip Girl. The actor’s impeccable acting skills, especially his darker shade as an actor were appreciated in the hit Netflix show.
But there seems to be an iconic role that Badgley missed out on playing. Many fans will be surprised to know that Badgley was one of the candidates who was considered for a role in the hit series Breaking Bad. But he did not get the opportunity to be in the series and is deeply envious about losing the role.
Penn Badgley Was Almost Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad
Aaron Paul famously played Jesse Pinkman in the hit series Breaking Bad opposite Bryan Cranston’s Walter White. The complicated druggie struggling to make ends meet had a deeply satisfying and emotional character arc throughout its 5 seasons. Paul even won 3 Emmys for his incredible performance.
One might be surprised to know that You‘s Penn Badgley was also considered for the role of Jesse Pinkman along with Aaron Paul. But Badgley lost the role to Paul. He expressed his envy of losing out on such an interesting role to Buzzfeed saying,
“One I got close on was Breaking Bad. It was between me and Aaron Paul, we tested. Actually, that was the best television script I’d read at that point. That was the one that got away.”
Aaron Paul completely owned the role of Jesse Pinkman. Fans can’t see any other actor who could have played the character better than him. But one can’t help but wonder how Badgley would have played the part. He is currently playing his most acclaimed character Joe Goldberg in Netflix’s You.
Also read: ‘You’ Co-star Penn Badgley Terrified Jenna Ortega While Filming: “I would genuinely get scared”
You Season 5 Will be an Unforgettable Ending for the Show
You‘s season 4 finale saw Penn Badgley’s Joe Goldberg return to New York where all the ‘stalking’ and madness started in the first season of the show. Since the end of season 4, fans have been wondering how the series will end and whether Joe Goldberg will be punished for his many wrongdoings.
Peter Friedlander, the Vice President of Scripted Series at Netflix recently talked about what to expect from the final season and the hope of delivering an unforgettable ending for audiences. He said (via Netflix Tudum),
“We’re proud to see how You has captivated audiences around the world, becoming an instant sensation on Netflix with a resounding cultural impact that has grown season over season. We’re excited — and a bit terrified — to see how it all ends for Joe Goldberg, but one thing is for sure: You are in for an unforgettable ending.”
It remains to be seen whether the finale turns out as thrilling and unforgettable as the makers have promised. The final season of the show is set to premiere next year on Netflix.
