The Breaking Bad universe is still alive and well, as Better Call Saul has taken the reins and continues to expand on the franchise, all while carving out a unique corner for itself. However, the show is now headed for its final stretch, with the upcoming sixth season slated to be its last. As such, fans are likely expecting some big things to happen, including appearances from Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul’s Walter White and Jesse Pinkman. Both actors are very much aware of fans’ desire to have them appear on the spinoff, and they’re just as on board with the idea as they are.
Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul came together for an Instagram live Q&A, during which they addressed possibly returning for Better Call Saul. Both seem very interested in the idea of bringing their fan-favorite characters to the show, especially Bryan Cranston. In addition to expressing his interest, he even jokingly mentioned that creator Vince Gilligan doesn’t care about them anymore:
We always get asked about Better Call Saul and whether Jesse or Walt are gonna show up on that show. I don't know how many times we've gotta tell Vince that we're ready to do it. I just don't think he loves us anymore.
Seeing Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul appear during Better Call Saul’s final season would be a dream come true. With the show quickly headed towards the Breaking Bad timeline, it would make plenty of sense for them to somehow pop in (or around) Jimmy McGill’s world. Nevertheless, Vince Gilligan and showrunner Peter Gould are very shrewd when it comes to using characters from the parent show. So for them, it would likely all depend on whether their appearances make sense to the story being told.
While they’ve yet to appear on Better Call Saul, Paul and Cranston have reprised their famous roles since the show ended its run back in 2013. Last year, Paul headlined El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, which continued the story of Jesse Pinkman. Along the way, fans were treated to a flashback that featured an appearance from Cranston’s Walter White.
If they were to appear, Walt and Jesse would be far from the first Breaking Bad characters to find their way onto Better Call Saul. Aside from Bob Odenkirk’s titular lawyer and Jonathan Banks’ Mike Ehrmantraut, Giancarlo Esposito’s Gus Fring was added to the cast in Season 3. The most recent season also featured appearances from Dean Norris and Steven Michael Quezada’s Hank Schrader and Steve Gomez. Even Robert Forster managed to make one last cameo as Ed Galbraith (“The Disappearer”) before his death.
It remains to be seen if Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould grant Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul their request, but there’s no doubt the two producers have big plans for the final stretch of Saul Goodman’s story.
Both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul are now available to stream on Netflix.
