Bryan Cranstonreached an all-time high when he played Walter White inBreaking Bad, but I don’t think he needs to attempt to replace his best show. Bryan Cranston has experienced nearly universal acclaim and recognition for playing Walter White onBreaking Bad. His performance is often cited as one of the best in television history, and his portrayal of the chemistry genius turned meth dealer is a piece of pop culture history. While he was absolutely fantastic inBreaking Bad, the show has also unfortunately cast a shadow over his acting career.
For years, people have been wondering what new project could be Cranston’s replacement forBreaking Bad. Every time he’s announced to star in a gritty, dark drama, people compare his character to Walter White and the show or movie toBreaking Bad. Quite a few of his recent projects since 2013, fromThe InfiltratortoYour Honor, have experienced the same comparisons. While it’s certainly understandable that everyone wants to know how Bryan Cranston will top his performance as Walter White, given it was thebest shows of Cranston’s career, I don’t think he should try to replicateBreaking Bad.
All 3 Breaking Bad Episodes Directed By Bryan Cranston
Bryan Cranston pulled double duty as an actor and a director for three episodes of his critically acclaimed AMC drama series, Breaking Bad.
I Want To See Bryan Cranston In More Diverse Roles, Not The Next Breaking Bad
While seeing another show that’s the same caliber asBreaking Badis an extremely exciting prospect, I think I’d rather see Bryan Cranston in something else entirely. Cranston is easily one of the best working actors in Hollywood, and I would hate to see him get typecast as a brilliant but angry anti-hero.Instead of trying to find a replacement forBreaking Bad, I think Cranston should show everyone why he doesn’t need a replacement at all. The fact of the matter is that Bryan Cranston doesn’t need to do another crime drama likeBreaking Badto be successful.
The fact of the matter is that Bryan Cranston doesn’t need to do another crime drama like Breaking Bad to be successful.
I think a much more exciting direction Bryan Cranston could take in his future projects would be to do something new. He has a chance to make something truly creative and innovative, and I believe his career would benefit a lot more by branching out.I can’t even imagine how amazing his next show could be if Cranston brought the skills he displayed inBreaking Badto a new and unexpected genre. He could do for another genre what Walter White did for crime dramas: revolutionize it. One of Cranston’s shows from beforeBreaking Badproves how much range he has and how capable he is.
Malcolm In The Middle Proved Bryan Cranston Can Tackle Vastly Different Roles
For years before he became Walter White, Bryan Cranston was known for an entirely different kind of acting.Cranston was mostly known for his comedic roles, such as thedentist Tim Whatley onSeinfeld, and more importantly, as Hal on the long-running sitcomMalcolm in the Middle. In fact, Cranston was so well-known as a comedian that it was strange to see him in a drama likeBreaking Bad, even though he’s now known for playing the meth-dealing Heisenberg. To this day,Malcolm in the Middlestands as proof that Bryan Cranston can handle a wide range of roles.
Malcolm in the Middle
Cast
Malcolm in the Middle tells the story of an average dysfunctional American family. When Malcolm, one of four children, learns that he possesses a genius-level intellect, his whole young world is turned upside down. Still desperately trying to fit in with his friends and family despite his extraordinary gifts, Malcolm finds that though his life might have changed, it’s still just as chaotic as ever.
Cranston’s previous shows are proof that he can be light, airy, goofy, and funny, like Hal inMalcolm in the Middle, or he can be dark, brooding, enraged, and methodical, like Walter inBreaking Bad. Comedy and drama are already the two extremes of the acting spectrum, so Cranston has already proven that he can handle anything in between them.His more recent work has also confirmed whatMalcolm in the MiddleandBreaking Badalready established: Cranston handled a much drier brand of humor inAsteroid City, and he was great as a more family-friendly villain inArgylle.
Another big reason I don’t think Bryan Cranston should be searching for aBreaking Badreplacement is because he simply can’t replace it.Breaking Badwill go down as one of thebest television shows of all time, and almost certainly as the second-best crime show ever, following onlyThe Sopranos.It seems incredibly unlikely that anything will surpassBreaking Bad’s legacy, and far less likely that another of Cranston’s projects could compete with it in the same genre. Instead of trying to replicate the irreplaceable series, I know Cranston’s acting talents would be put to better use in a different kind of show or movie.
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad, created by Vince Gilligan, follows a chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin named Walter White (Bryan Cranston) as he attempts to provide for his family following a fatal diagnosis. With nothing left to fear, White ascends to power in the world of drugs and crime, transforming the simple family man into someone known only as Heisenberg.
Breaking Badwas already the greatest crime story Bryan Cranston will ever tell, so I think he should branch out and do something else. He’s got the acting skills to tell whatever story he wants, be it horror, sci-fi, romance, or any other genre. Cranston is also one of the few actors who I believe instantly makes a project better just by being involved - evenArgyllecould have been worse if he wasn’t in the cast. AnythingBryan Cranstondoes is nearly guaranteed to be great, so he might as well dominate other genres in addition to comedy and drama.
