Bryan Cranston Reveals Other Actor Considered for Walter White Role

Bryan Cranston delved into the behind-the-scenes history of his iconic crime drama Breaking Bad this week — and revealed that his lead role could have gone to another A-lister.

During an appearance on James Corden’s SiriusXM show This Life Of Mine, Cranston admitted that Matthew Broderick was among the actors who were considered to play the chemistry teacher–turned–criminal mastermind.

According to the film and television star, the final casting of the lead role was largely dependent on his scheduling availability.

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Broderick — whose wife Sarah Jessica Parker recently spoke about what brought them together — would likely have delivered a significantly altered performance if he was cast as Walter White, as he and Cranston have wildly different demeanors and reputations.

But even though Broderick was in the running for the role, Cranston claimed that the role was his to lose. 

Bryan Cranston delved into the behind-the-scenes history of his iconic crime drama Breaking Bad (pictured) this week — and revealed that his lead role could have gone to another A-lister 

During an appearance on James Corden’s SiriusXM show This Life Of Mine, Cranston admitted that Matthew Broderick was among the actors who were considered to play the chemistry teacher–turned–criminal mastermind

John Cusack has also been rumored to have been offered the role of Walter White, though he has denied ever turning down the part. 

The Isle Of Dogs voice actor explained that Broderick was being considered to play the anti-hero, but he was mainly a backup in case Cranston’s schedule changed.

‘We shot the pilot of Breaking Bad in February and March of 2007. Had Malcolm In The Middle gone an eighth season, we wouldn’t be sitting here right now, or you’d be sitting here, but you’d be talking to Matthew Broderick or someone else who played Walter White instead of me,’ he told Corden.

The seventh season of Malcolm In the Middle ended up airing from September 2005 to May 2006.

Luckily for Cranston, it ended with the seventh season, freeing him up to shoot the now-classic Breaking Bad pilot.

Malcolm In The Middle had reportedly been on the edge of receiving an eighth season, but the creative team were able to write a satisfying conclusion to the coming-of-age comedy to prepare for cancellation and to make it seem as if the show was always intended to run for seven seasons only.

Cranston played Hal, the patriarch of Malcolm’s family, who was nearly as immature as his children.

The role was Cranston’s breakout part, and he earned three Emmy nominations for Supporting Actor for the role.

While speaking of the possibility of Breaking Bad with Matthew Broderick, Cranston said that ‘Broderick was being considered, but it came to me because of the fact [creator and showrunner] Vince Gilligan said, “No, he’s the guy,”‘ referring to Cranston.

The actor added that Sony and AMC ‘were skeptical and they were thinking… that’s the one you want to be the evil kind of, ooh, no, and he goes, “Trust me. This is what they do and that’s what you need.” 

‘I needed a champion in my corner,’ Cranston added.

‘We shot the pilot of Breaking Bad in February and March of 2007. Had Malcolm In The Middle gone an eighth season, we wouldn’t be sitting here right now, or you’d be sitting here, but you’d be talking to Matthew Broderick or someone else who played Walter White instead of me,’ he told Corden; still from Malcolm In The Middle

John Cusack has also been rumored to have been offered the role of Walter White, though he has denied ever turning down the part; seen in 2017 in Orlando, Florida

Cranston said ‘Broderick was being considered, but it came to me because of the fact [creator and showrunner] Vince Gilligan said, “No, he’s the guy”‘; Broderick pictured with wife Sarah Jessica Parker in October in NYC

Cranston won four Emmy Awards for his role, while his costars Aaron Paul (pictured) and Anna Gunn both won multiple Emmys as well

He got just that in Gilligan, and Breaking Bad went on to be the most important work of his career.

Cranston won four Emmy Awards for his role, while his costars Aaron Paul and Anna Gunn both won multiple Emmys as well.

The series later led to the acclaimed spinoff Better Call Saul, which focused on the origin’s of Bob Odenkirk’s dirty attorney Saul Goodman, and it also received a Netflix sequel film, El Camino.

Breaking Bad went on the air in January of 2008, and it wrapped up the second half of its fifth season in September 2013.