Will Breaking Bad Get Another Spinoff? The Creator Finally Weighs In
Breaking Bad mastermind Vince Gilligan finally weighs in on the franchise’s future, telling The Hollywood Reporter whether another spin-off or reboot is on the table as he readies a new Apple TV series.
Vince Gilligan knows the Breaking Bad universe could keep spinning forever. He also knows how easy it is to mess up a good thing. So if you’re hoping for another trip to Albuquerque… maybe don’t hold your breath.
How this came up
Gilligan was chatting with The Hollywood Reporter about his upcoming Apple TV+ series, Pluribus, when the conversation inevitably turned to more Breaking Bad. THR even pitched him a plot hook on the spot: a cartel-made tape of Jesse Pinkman cooking Walt’s recipe gets out and lands in the wrong hands. He laughed, said it was a solid idea, and admitted there are plenty of ways to reboot the world or build new shows around Better Call Saul characters.
Could it actually happen?
Look, the man’s not short on options. He called the casts of both shows ridiculously deep and said pretty much any major player could carry their own series. He even singled out the El Camino crew: the two Scotts, MacArthur and Shepherd, got a special shoutout, and Jesse Plemons has obviously gone through the roof since then, for good reason.
Where he stands right now
- He’s spent about 20 years living in the Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul world. He’s not burnt out, but he’s ready to write a hero for a change instead of another villain or anti-hero.
- He’s flat-out worried about dinging the legacy. He’d rather leave some money (and fan hunger) on the table than risk a misfire.
- Translation: never say never, but he’d rather say no than deliver a bad yes.
"Okay, man, that was a really great multi-course meal, but that last serving in the dessert bowl was dog shit. Now I’ve got a bad taste in my mouth, and that’s all I remember now."
The bottom line
Gilligan absolutely sees the routes back to Breaking Bad. He even joked along with a new angle that was thrown at him mid-interview. But his priority is protecting what’s already there and trying something different with Pluribus. If another spin-off happens someday, it’ll be because he found the right idea, not because the universe could technically support one. For now, the door isn’t locked, but it’s definitely not swinging open either.