Q&A - Bryan Cranston (Walt White) on the Emmys and Season 2 of Breaking Bad
The star of Breaking Bad took a moment from production of the second season in Albuquerque to discuss his Emmy nomination and his hopes for the future of Walt White.
Q: Congratulations on the Emmy nomination. That's wonderful news.
A: Thank you! If you think it's wonderful, how about from my point of view? You just do your work and go along and then someone taps you on the shoulder and says, "Hey guess what," and then you can honestly be surprised and happy about it. And you know, it would be great to win. It would be wonderful for the show, and hopefully that would translate to allowing us to be on the air for a few more years and to tell our story.
Q: How do you feel sharing the nomination ticket with Mad Men's Jon Hamm?
A: I wasn't surprised at all he was nominated. The show was critically very well-received, as was ours, and so we're very happy for our sister show and we hope they do well. It would be great if they were able to win best show, and it would be great if Jon Hamm were a runner-up for best actor in a drama series. [Laughs]
Q: Did you ever have doubts that Breaking Bad would return for a second season?
A: Like the nomination itself, I just try to focus on the things I can control. So I leave it up to the TV gods to decide what the outcomes of anything should be, and I was hoping we would get a pick-up because the pilot and the first season were very compelling drama. And a lot of people get the dark humor -- we're getting the kind of avid fan base that can't wait to see what happens next, and that's what you want.
Q: How does it feel to be back on set after the hiatus?
A: It was six months ago that we finished the last season. So it does take some getting used to, remembering faces of your crew members. But once you get past the newness of that, it's like slipping into a pair of old comfortable shoes. We know we're going to be in good hands with the writers and crew.
Q: Season 1 was cut short by the writers' strike. Did this give Vince an opportunity to re-evaluate where the story should go?
A: He had an idea of what he wanted to do for the two episodes that we didn't get to. And because we didn't get to it, all things wash out. It ended where it ended, then he gets a chance to re-evaluate it, think about it over the hiatus and now look at an arc of thirteen episodes as opposed to six. And of course it changes things.
Q: Where would you like to see the show and your character go in the future?
A: I think eventually I'm going to die in this show, and rightfully so. [Laughs]. I deserve it. In the meantime whatever happens, happens. But we can't accelerate a storyline in order to think that we only have this season to tell it. I do know that because of the conditions of the character and what has been established already and what Vince has already stated is that he wants to have a show where your lead character changes. And as he semi-jokingly puts it, he wants to turn Mr. Chips into Scarface. Maybe not that drastic, but interestingly enough not all that far away.
We certainly do get it and you're hitting the nail right on the head saying we can't wait for more.
Much thanks to Mr. Cranston for the wonderful interview. These are the tasty tidbits that will tide us over until season two finally rolls around.
Thanks and best of lucky with the Emmy's
Congrats on the nomination, and thanks again to AMC for their really cool sites! Digging this and the Prisoner blogs!
or make us want to watch it even more, AND THEN we get bored, AND START doing crystal METH, and , k ill stop.
(I will suck a million bongs in my life, never will i touch ice)
Congratulations on the Emmy nomination, you deserve it. Every time your not in a scene I get frustrated. You are the show! When the writers feel that it's your time to die, Breaking Bad will have the same fate. Until then keep up the great work.
Jesse and Walt are rule, but if one of them die or something i think the show wont be as good as it is at the moment so i hope Walt survives somehow :).
Bryan Cranston said that he is sure Walt will eventually die, and that he obviously deserves to. Wow, that was loaded. I know that what he is doing in the show is wrong, but there is the total flip side to it as well. He is looking to provide for his family after he is gone, and since the clock is ticking, this is the best way he could figure out. Sure people have died, but they were the scum of the Earth that would have caused more destruction alive, and most likley killed innocent people down the road. Again, what he is doing is not "right," but does the character really DESERVE to die? I mean, I am not so sure how I would behave knowing what he knows and wanting to provide for a new baby, wife, and son with special needs after I am gone. I really wish that the actor would have elaborated further on this comment. Anyone else care to? And Bryan Cranston, if you read these comments, could you please share your view on Walts behavior? I think that we are "dying" to know why you think Walt deserves to die...
CasperWA
Seattle, WA
casperwa@hotmail.com
I think that would only happen (his death) at the end of the series. Without Walter, there is no show. This show is now my favorite show. I had me on the edge of my chair each and every episode. I root for Walter. I say hooray each time he decides not to be kicked around anymore. I love these characters. They are so "Real". Keep up the good writing. I can't wait for season 2.
OK, dumb question but I couldn't find it ANYWHERE on the site. WHEN will SEASON 2 premier? Has it been announced?
It has not been officially announced, no...but there is talk that it could be as early as January of next year or as late as March of next year. I am hoping for January.
a-ha
so cool to win the emmy. Love this show. Walt is wildman, can't wait to see what he does next.
13 episodes is not enough! There are 52 weeks in a year and there were only 7 episodes this past year! I watched them over and and over on On Demand and then I Tivoed them almost in meditation to see if I missed anything! I have it on my myspace page (along with the few other types of entertainment that I actually like). Nevermind! I'll take whatever I can get my hands on! Just get me my fix already!
What's the deal with you and Gretchen, too? Are there still feelings there? Is she going to be any part of the upcoming season? It's goofy, but I loved Friends as a comedy and I loved Jessica Hecht's character in this, too.
Coming from a VERY FORMER meth users point of view, this first season has done a very good job of conveying the craziness and split second decisions that can change a user or dealers life forever in the matter of a moment... and i cant wait for season two... on a side note.. Mr Cranston has been one of my favorite actors since the very first back shaving episode of Malcolm (and Cmon..roller disco? Pure comedic genius..)
yay! he wonnnnnnn!!!!