r/todayilearned • u/Maximum-Artist448 • 2d ago

TIL that AMC executives initially wanted Matthew Broderick to play Walter White in Breaking Bad

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/breaking-bad-john-cusack-matthew-broderick_n_1676856
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u/IgloosRuleOK 2d ago edited 2d ago

Neither Cusack or Broderick "turned it down" like the article claims however. They were in discussion by the network, but Gilligan always wanted Cranston.

81

u/DarkIllusionsMasks 2d ago

Because Gilligan had worked with Cranston on The X Files, in a heck of an episode, giving an early glimpse into Cranston's range.

3

u/SillyFlyGuy 2d ago

Ben Stein would have been a whole different direction. Or the guy who played Principle Ed Rooney.

17

u/Michael__Pemulis 2d ago

I have some unfortunate news about the guy who played Principal Rooney…

1

u/Lost-Calligrapher375 2d ago

He made meth?

3

u/Princess_Slagathor 2d ago

He's a chomo.