The Actor Who Almost Completely Ruined Breaking Bad
Bryan Cranston and Walter White are synonymous. I can not imagine any other actor playing the infamous Breaking Bad role, especially not the guy we all know best as Ferris Bueller. But according to Cranston himself, that once could’ve been a reality, and I’m positive Matthew Broderick would have ruined the show.
Matthew Broderick Could Have Been Walter White
Appearing on James Corden’s The Life Of Mine SiriusXM show, Bryan Cranston confirmed that Matthew Broderick was one considered for the role of Walter White. Cranston said that if Malcolm in the Middle had gone on for an eighth season, we would likely have all watched a very different Breaking Bad.
Walter White Would Be A Grown Up Ferris Bueller
Matthew Broderick’s star power would’ve been big enough to land him the role at that time, but the Godzilla star wouldn’t have been able to embody the good-guy-turned-bad role like Cranston. Sure, Broderick has starred in plenty of great films (see: Glory), but none of those movies were great just because he played a part in them.
Breaking Bad with Matthew Broderick would essentially have been a what-if scenario showcasing a middle-aged Ferris Bueller trying to relive his glory days.
John Cusack Was Also Considered
John Cusack was also reported to have been sought after for the role of Walter White by studio execs. Again, this would have likely been a huge mistake, but at least I can better imagine Cusack standing idly by his partner’s girlfriend as she overdoses than I can Matthew Broderick. Cusack has proven his range many times and, unlike Broderick, has the ability to take on unhinged roles.
Broderick In Painkiller
The closest Matthew Broderick ever came to playing a character that can be compared to that of Walter White is most likely from Netflix’s Painkiller. The limited series about the opioid crisis in America saw the actor take on the villainous role of Richard Sackler, a head honcho in big pharma. While both the series and Broderick’s acting were positively received, the character was meant to be one-sided.
I don’t think we could ever love and hate Walter White simultaneously had Matthew Broderick taken the role.
Bryan Cranston Is Breaking Bad
Bryan Cranston is and forever will be remembered as Walter White for me. Sure, I knew him first as the dentist in Seinfeld, then came to love him as the dad from Malcolm in the Middle, and even rooted for him post-Breaking Bad in Your Honor. But I simply can not imagine anyone else – especially not Matthew Broderick – ingraining “I am the one who knocks” into my mind.
Thank Vince Gilligan
Don’t get me wrong: Vince Gilligan deserves just as much credit for making Breaking Bad a revolutionary TV masterpiece, but let’s be honest: Bryan Cranston’s performance is what makes the show so iconic.
To that, at the end of the day, we still owe it all to Gilligan. The Breaking Bad creator knew he wanted Cranston for the part after previously working with him on the episode of The X-Files, “Drive.” I’m just thankful that those above him seeking out Matthew Broderick weren’t able to change his mind.
