‘Better Call Saul’ Cast: Dean Norris Is Nervous About ‘Breaking Bad’ Spin-Off


The Better Call Saul cast could be re-using some of the actors from Breaking Bad. Dean Norris, also known as DEA agent Hank Schrader, might not be among them for what could be some very solid reasons.

There are spoilers below, so if you haven’t seen AMC’s hit show, close this tab and go watch Breaking Bad all the way through.

Norris’ character Hank played a major role in the show, starting as a cocky Drug Enforcement Agency detective going after a drug kingpin and eventually being part of the grand finale in one of the most shocking ways. Hank was the brother-in-law of Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a high school chemist who discovered he had lung cancer and maybe six months to live.

After doing a ride-along with Hank, Walter decided to try “cooking” methamphetamines alongside his former student Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul). He does this to pay for his own cancer treatment and set up his kids’ financial future. Along the way, he ruins Hank and Jesse’s lives, and only one lives to tell about it. In season five, Hank gets shot by a family of hit men instead of Jesse.

For this reason, the Better Call Saul cast might not involve Dean Norris in his signature role, but the actor himself told Screen Crush why he would be nervous to even be part of it.

“I have very conflicted views on ‘Better Call Saul.’ You know, I’m such a big fan of ‘Breaking Bad.’ So, I thought it was the perfect show and I thought it ended perfectly and to just kind of mess with that in any way, what’s the upside? You have to make another perfect show, you know? I’m going to watch it like a mother watches her kids playing baseball or something, because I want it to be so good and I want it to work and I want it to be great. But I think they’re going to turn that show into something completely different. And, smartly, it’s going to be its own show. And maybe, years down the line, maybe I’ll show up on that show. But, I’m afraid.”

Dean Norris doesn’t want to be part of the Better Call Saul cast because the show was already good enough and he doesn’t want to be part of a show that might end up ruining the continuity. That isn’t a lack of faith in Bob Odenkirk (Saul Goodman), the star of the Breaking Bad spin-off; Norris just doesn’t want to be part of it.

Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks (Mike) are definitely set to reprise their roles among the Better Call Saul cast.

Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, and Aaron Paul are still open for cameos, according to Uproxx. Giancarlo Esposito, who played Gustavo Fring, is also hesitant to join the new series.

Considering how the spin-off has been said to be a prequel, it isn’t unlikely for previous stars to have more than cameos as background characters, though some would make more sense than others. Like Dean Norris, however, the Better Call Saul cast will probably be better leaving most Breaking Bad actors and actresses out.

Who do you think will be part of the spin-off coming in February 2015?

[Image via AMC TV]

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