‘Breaking Bad’ Spin-Off Scores Exclusive Netflix Streaming Deal

The upcoming Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul will hit Netflix streaming as soon as the season finale airs on AMC.

Instead of waiting months for the new show to arrive on the subscription services, fans can reportedly watch every episode of the first season immediately after the cable network finishes its initial run. Unfortunately, it’s unclear when the Breaking Bad spin-off will arrive.

According to IGN, Netflix recently snagged exclusive rights to Better Call Saul in the United States and Canada. The streaming service also secured rights to the series in Europe and Latin America as well.

However, the foreign deal is a little different from the domestic arrangement. Instead of getting the entire season shortly after AMC airs the finale, individual episodes should arrive on the service shortly after their initial broadcast. Either way you slice it, Netflix has exclusive rights to the spin-off in all major markets.

“This spin-off promises to continue its tradition of powerful storytelling. We are proud to be in business with Sony Pictures Television to bring Saul Goodman to our subscribers around the world,” Netflix CCO Ted Sarandos said in a recent statement.

“Coming off of the overwhelming success of ‘Breaking Bad,’ we’re excited to continue our collaboration with Vince, as well as Peter Gould, and that fans around the world will be able to embrace ‘Saul,'” said Sony Pictures Television president Steve Mosko.

Variety reports that Sony was ready and willing to take Better Call Saul to the folks at Netflix if AMC decided to pass on the spin-off. Since Breaking Bad was such a huge success, the cable network ultimately decided that picking up the new series was a smart move.

Saul will reportedly tell the story of Bob Odenkirk’s character before he represented chemistry teacher-turned-meth cooker Walter White (Bryan Cranston). Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan and writer Peter Gould are reportedly hard at work on the new show.

While reports suggest Better Call Saul is a prequel, star Bob Odenkirk said he really would like to see the series go in both directions.

“I’ll tell you, and I’ve told the guys, I want to see both. I’d like to see what happens before and what happens after. I don’t know what they’ll do with that… but that’s what I’d like to see,” Odenkirk recently told Business Insider.

Are you looking forward to the Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul? What do you think about Netflix getting exclusive streaming rights to the series?