Breaking Bad‘s Saul Goodman will live on at AMC. After lengthy negotiations, the cable network and Breaking Bad producer Sony Pictures TV have reached a licensing agreement for a spinoff from Vince Gilligan‘s acclaimed drama series. The spinoff series, tentatively titled Better Call Saul, had been in the works for months. It centers on one of Breaking Bad‘s most recognizable supporting characters, Bob Odenkirk‘s unflappable criminal lawyer Saul Goodman. Conceived by Breaking Bad creator Gilligan and series writer-producer Peter Gould — who created the Saul character together for a Season 2 episode written by Gould — the spinoff will be a one-hour prequel that will focus on the evolution of the Goodman character before he ever 
became Walter White’s lawyer, AMC said. The network wouldn’t elaborate on the project’s status, but I’ve learned Better Call Saul has a series order pending the complication of Sony TV’s deals with Gilligan, Gould and Odenkirk. The pact between AMC and Sony TV came after talks between the two sides came down to the wire, with other outlets, including Netflix, which has had huge success with Breaking Bad, very interested in snatching the spinoff series.
The title of the spinoff comes from the original Saul episode of Breaking Bad, titled “Better Call Saul”, in which Walt (Bryan Cranston) and Jesse (Aaron Paul) hire the flamboyant Goodman after Badger (Matt L. Jones) is caught by the DEA. Goodman, who has been a regular presence on the show since, is a sleazy but highly competent criminal lawyer with a penchant for over-the-top TV commercials in which he uses his signature tagline “Better Call Saul!” Saul has served as Breaking Bad‘s comic relief, which is not surprising given Odenkirk’s strong comedy background. While hourlong, the spinoff is expected to be be far less dark than the original series, with more comedy infused into it.
Gilligan has been high on the idea for over a year. “I would love to see a Saul Goodman spinoff,” he said in a July 2012 interview. “I like the idea of a lawyer show in which the main lawyer will do anything it takes to stay out of a court of law. He’ll settle on the courthouse steps, whatever it takes to stay out of the courtroom. That would be fun — I would like that.”
Not only is Vince a great guy, but so is Peter. Excited to see what they do with this.
you know the guy personally?
uh, duh.
They cancelled The Killing for THIS? AMC can go screw.
The killing was bad.
I’d cancel more than just one mediocre cop show to see Bob Odenkirk in his own series, but AMC might not even get this. Sounds perfect for Netflix.
Wait. Somebody likes The Killing? Now that is a plot twist.
The Killing? There are people who don’t realize how bad the killing was? What a world
And here I thought I was the only one. Damn, I was surrounded there for a while by people who made me feel like a damn jagass for thinking that show blew chunks. I feel beddah now.
AMC is going to need something in a post B.B. and Mad Men TV world.
Walking Dead?
Nope.
Why not? Gets killer ratings. BB has never been a big ratings star and Mad Men, ehhh.
Yeah, but it sucks.
“Yeah, but it sucks.”
That’s a matter of opinion. What’s not an opinion is that it gets good ratings, which is what matters when it comes to what shows are on TV.
Not necessarily. That is a gross oversimplification. Budget, the total marketability of the brand, merchandise, and many other things are taken into consideration. There are many highly rated shows that have been pulled, or forced to end early over the years. Usually it is due to the cost of making a show that has already set such high viewer expectations that going it cheap is not an option. However, all of this is beside the point. The OP simply pointed out that AMC will need something else. He did not say for what need, or even from what perspective that need was born from. I, (and many others) might conclude that AMC needs something else simply to appeal to my tastes. In which case, the OP is correct in his assertion from at least one point of view. Not to mention that your whole assertion was born out of the response that “Yeah, but it sucks,” that admitted and made no argument over the ratings as they stand. So your comment simply states what had already been covered in a snarky way (I take it because the assertion that ‘The Walking Dead’ ‘sucks’ somehow offends you). Please attempt to contribute something of value and not just get ‘butt-hurt’ and act all elitist in the future. Actually argue a point instead of just being a snarky bitch about one someone else already posted (Although, perhaps your point sucks, then just don’t comment anything at all please). Thank you.
“Breaking Bad has never been a big ratings star”
What ratings have you been looking at?
The series has won seven Primetime Emmy Awards—including three consecutive wins for Best Actor for Cranston, two wins for Best Supporting Actor for Paul, and four nominations for Outstanding Drama Series. Cranston has also been nominated three times for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor and nominated four times for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor, winning once at the 19th Screen Actors Guild Awards. In 2013, the Writers Guild of America named Breaking Bad the 13th best-written TV series of all time.[20] That same year, Guinness World Records awarded it the highest-rated TV series of all time, citing a Metacritic score of 99/100.[21]
Breaking Bad has received widespread critical acclaim and has been praised by some critics as the greatest television drama of all time.[15][16][17][18] On the review aggregator website Metacritic, the first season scored 74/100,[10] the second season scored 85/100,[11] the third season scored 89/100[12] the fourth season scored 96/100,[13] and the fifth season so far has been rated at 99/100.[14] The American Film Institute listed Breaking Bad as one of the top ten television series of 2010 and 2011
in my opinion, if you think walking dead sucks then your opinion is worthless…quite easily one of the best shows on TV at the moment…not even up for debate…
“ZOMBIES!!!1!1!!” Sure it’s up for debate. It’s a bad show.
Walking Dead is one of the most popular shows on television, yes.
“Best”? You’re insane. Not only is it up for debate, it’s a tough argument for you to carry. Awful characters, awful writing, awful acting.
Yeah it’s up for debate.
The show doesn’t even have original ideas: everything is stolen from other movies and TV shows.
The Walking Dead is a very mediocre television program.
… Its up for debate…mos def
one of the best shows “at the moment” isn’t really high praise.
sure its entertaining at points, But i could really give two fucks about anything that happens in that show because the writing is overall just very poor.
Halt & Catch Fire and Turn coming next year and Walking Dead is good to run for at least 8 seasons if not more.
hell on wheels?
So will this be a series or just a single one-hour episode..?
No one reads the articles before asking questions lol – “The spinoff SERIES, tentatively titled Better Call Saul, had been in the works for months.”
“the spinoff will be a one-hour prequel that will focus on the evolution of the Goodman character”
Yeah… you didn’t read either did you?
“Better Call Saul has a series order pending the complication of Sony TV’s deals with Gilligan, Gould and Odenkirk.”
Neither of you fucking read, do you?
“Comment by Jack” “Comment by movie_guy””Comment by David”
“Neither of you fucking read, do you?”
There’s three of them. How about we take this as an opportunity to realize that we’re all hypocrites and therefore we should be patient with one another when we make mistakes.
This.
As in one hour long episodes
“one-hour” refers to the length of each episode, as opposed to a “half-hour” series.
“the spinoff will be a one-hour prequel…” I’m going to assume you can’t understand anything to save your life, David. Spinoff usually refers to a series, but what the sentence that you failed to understand means is that the series will be a PREQUEL to BB, i.e. take place before BB.
But it also states multiple times how it will be a one hour prequel, which kind of makes it sound like it’ll be a one time thing. It won’t be a one time thing, but I thought the same thing as Jack while I was reading it lol.
This sounds terrible.
Although I love Bob’s character on “Breaking Bad”, and I was excited to hear about this potential spinoff, I’m now wondering if more Saul is a good thing. Yes, he is very funny and provides comic relief, but that’s just it. “Relief”, as in a few scenes of Saul every now and then, but a full hour of Saul every week – and less dark? I think that might become a bit much for this viewer.
I agree with Cynical Critic, once or twice in an episode is about all I can handle of Saul. But…who would of thought a show about a cancer riddled chemistry teacher breaking bad would do well?
Can’t you guys give the guy that brought us Breaking Bad the benefit of the doubt and assume he knows what he’s doing? Jesus christ. Give him a chance to at least show you a trailer or something before you write it off.
There is a large cult following for Bob Odenkirk. On top of them, there will be the fans he gained from Breaking Bad. And on top of that you have Vince Gilligan. This show could be very good. What I would love, it ends with the first scene he appears in Breaking Bad. But that’s just me.
Saul has hell of a potential. As a Prequel-Series you could build in Tons of Cameos from Breaking Bad, also you could take Motifs from BrBa and write other stuff around them (Grey Industries, Badger… possibilities are countless). I’m very excited!
Jeez… Saul knew Mike and Gus Fring before he ever met Heisenberg… So. Much. Potential!
Agreed. I imagine a scene where in the background, a nervous, full haired Walter White is washing Saul’s tires while he makes a phone call.
All frosting and very little cake. Love the idea and hope for the best though.
We don’t see Walter White for an hour in Breaking Bad either. He has a big ensemble of characters going around him, and sharing the spotlight. Saul already have a good starting entourage. Heck we could have an entire episode of Bill Burr and Huell going on missions. Then there’s Mike. Oh hell yes, Mike. And Saul is the one who introduced Walter to Gus, which mean he might have been involved in how Gus built his empire. That would be nice to see. And there’s this mysterious guy who can change someone’s identity. I’d love to see him operate on someone….
Doing a prequel also means three great things:
1) Saul could still die in parent show
2) Jonathan Banks could show up
3) Giancarlo Esposito could show up.
Hmmmmm….
JJ is right on the money with this!
All this press for Saul getting his own show is just misdirection for his possible death. Vince is smarter than all of us, LOL.
Prequel starts with Saul hiring Mike for the first time (runs for 5 seasons) and ends with Walt walking through his door. Done, and done!
MORE GUS & MIKE AS WELL! PLEASE!!!
They cancelled The Killing because it just wasn’t good.
mmm
an NCIS fan …
great …
Chris, you obviously know how TV works. :sarcasm:
This means they can bring back beloved characters who have perished. Bring back Mike!
Prequel??? So much for all of us assuming that at least Saul makes it out of Breaking Bad alive…
Prequel = Saul’s about to go to Belize
Wouldn’t be surprised if he actually does end the series by buying a plane ticket to Belize and flying off into the sunset with a buncha cash.
Good god, please yes
Sequel = Saul goes to Belize (maybe)or dies or buys his own carwash.
Prequel = BEFORE Walter White’s lungs carry him to fame & misfortune, before Heisenberg, BEFORE Breaking Bad altogether.
Fans of Breaking Bad should give Saul a chance. Yes this is a weekly 1 hr series & they can bring back characters from BB that were killed off. Obviously for those who don’t like Saul then this show isn’t for you.
In the 1960s, there was a legendary tympani player for the New York Philharmonic: Saul Goodman.
Couldn’t they have waited until after series was over? SPOILERS!
How is announcing a prequel any sort of a spoiler in any capacity?
I think they’re assuming that the creators decided on a prequel because Saul is going to die by the end of this season. I don’t think that’s the case though. A prequel just sounds more interesting.
Yeah, anything after dealing with the Walter White fiasco would seem like small potatoes to Saul. :)
It’s a prequel, all events in the show happen before he met Walter White..
How is it a spoiler? Its a prequel, meaning in the Breaking Bad universe “Better Call Saul” would take place well before Mr. White Breaks Bad.
Saul is good in small doses, but I couldn’t stomach a whole show of him.
Don’t see this lasting more than half a season
If Low Winter Sun is going to air its full season. This definitely will.
Hard to see how this isn’t a letdown after the brilliance of Braking Bad, but hopefully I’m wrong…the character is terrific, and the premise sounds solid.
*Make that Breaking Bad…
I kinda like the idea of ‘Braking Bad’ being the inevitable sequel!
This is great news. He’s a wonderful character and hopefully they’ll bring back Mike. Too bad it didn’t go to Netflix though where we could have gotten it commercial free and all at one time.
Also, no durn watermarks on the netflix steam. Those really break immersion by comparison.
killing was great
This season of The Killing was great. Second to last episode; AMAZING! Peter Sarsgaard; Emmy worthy. The last episode of the season was THE WORST CRAP I’VE EVER SEEN!!!!!!
Time for it to go. I’ll watch the leads in movies.
Peace out!
Everyone involved has earned the benefit of the doubt.
Saul is a great character… But let’s not forget — Vince is also one of the guys who gave us the great Lone Gunmen spinoff from X-Files.
The “Great” in preceding sentence was sarcastic in case you were wondering. Another situation where low-dose characters were superfun, but couldn’t sustain their own series. Hopefully with as much as Vince has grown as a writer/showrunner, he’ll craft something better with Saul.
That was my initial thought as well. I assume we’ll get a full season order out of Breaking Bad respect alone and that’ll be the extent of it. I’ll reserve judgment until I actually see the show. Anything set in the Breaking Bad universe has my interest. I would’ve prefered a Gus prequel if they are indeed going that route.
At least there’s hope for Mike, Huell and Kuby to pop up on Saul.
Therefore, the one hour discussion block after Low Winter Sun will be entitled “Talking Better”, which sounds less like nerdgasm discussion and more like grammar school gone…ahem…bad.
The funniest part of this comment is not the delicious grammar joke, but the assumption that Low Winter Sun will be on when Better Call Saul hits the airwaves.
This sounds as bad as “The Paulie Walnuts Show”.
YESSSS
The early years, where Huell will be played by Chris Rock.