‘Breaking Bad’ Spinoff ‘Better Call Saul’ Talks Casting Details

Breaking Bad fans have been craving more Heisenberg since the hit show ended last year, and they may have a chance at seeing some familiar faces in the Better Call Saul spinoff. Here’s what we know so far about the new series, which is slated to debut in fall of 2015.

Bob Odenkirk will reprise his role as Saul Goodman — though when we first meet him, he’ll be known as Jimmy McGill, as a new billboard advertising the show revealed. The show, set back in 2002, will follow Saul’s transition from small-time lawyer Jimmy to criminal attorney Saul.

Other characters from Breaking Bad we can expect to see include Mike Erhmantraut (Jonathan Banks), and possibly Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito), the drug lord that Saul sort-of knew, from a “friend of a friend”:

“These are all characters we love and with Gus there is so much more to say about that character, and we certainly love Giancarlo… although in the series it always seemed to me that Saul didn’t know Gus directly. He knew a guy who knew a guy.”

And hopes for seeing Walter White? “If it makes sense we’ll do it, if it doesn’t make sense we won’t,” Gilligan says. Way to tease the fans! However, one major difference in the spinoff from the original Breaking Bad will be in its visual style. “We’re doing our damnedest to make it as different as possible. It’s important that this not look like a carbon copy of ‘Breaking Bad,'” Gilligan said.

#BreakingBad and more at the #TCA14 Awards http://t.co/fUhxA7BH85 pic.twitter.com/NOeo7Dap7g

— Zap2it (@Zap2it) July 21, 2014

Another important difference between the two shows will be in the casting. Breaking Bad was known for avoiding big-name actors for its roles in attempts to make the show feel as real as possible. Breaking Bad has also been nominated for an Emmy in casting this year, for the first time in the show’s run. When it comes to casting for Better Call Saul, however, it seems that everyone in Hollywood wants in this time.

On ‘Breaking Bad’ there wasn’t the secrecy that we have to adhere to now [with ‘Better Call Saul’], and so it’s a whole new world. The actors are coming in with dummy sides, they aren’t even able to look at a script. So they have to walk into the casting room and trust us on how we’re guiding that. Secrecy.”

So, all those eager fans looking for possible spoilers or hints on Saul’s cast and plot? Sorry, looks like this one is locked shut, and we’ll have to wait until next fall to see how Saul’s story unfolds.

[Image via E! News]