Better Call Saul

blatantrereg

I would love to see a Saul Goodman spinoff. I can’t say that it is genuinely in the works at this moment, but certainly Bob Odenkirk and I have talked about it a little bit. I can’t promise that it will ever happen, but I think I personally, as fan number one of this world, meaning the first one to partake of these plot moments and whatnot, I personally would love to tune in and see a good Saul Goodman show.
I like the idea of a lawyer show in which the main lawyer will do anything it takes to stay out of a court of law. He’ll settle on the courthouse steps, whatever it takes to stay out of the courtroom. That would be fun — I would like that.

TwoShedsJackson

As long as they can get Skinny Pete and Badger in there as well..

briany

Saul is comic relief to a dark show so I'd just wonder what tone a spin off would take? Odenkirk always plays weasely characters, that's his thing, but could we get behind a weasely character?

OU812

There's huge potential in that character & his clients. I think that's where the real show would come from.

gnfnrhead

Wouldn't mind it being given a try. Maybe 10 30 minute episodes to see how it goes.

Would definitely need the likes of Skinny Pete and Badger to make occasional appearances even if they aren't full time. Anyone else who doesn't die too.

briany

In order to really see what kind of legs this program would have, maybe Gilligan and co. could produce some 10 minute webisodes of Saul interacting with clients, judges etc., put them up on bettercallsaul.com and the BB website to see what the reaction is?

I personally would be in favour of a continued BB storyline than a fully fledged Saul spinoff because I just can't see Saul as a main character that we can root for or a compelling central premise. The escapades of a sleazy, corrupt lawyer don't do much for me, even though I think it looks good written down.

I'd like to see one short special webisode made, set in Saul's office, 50's sitcom style - the canned laughter, characters walking in the door to applause etc. Bryan Cranston could play that as he's a funny man as well. Mad to think how far he's come from Tim Sacksky.

iMuse

Producer Sony TV are exploring keeping the franchise alive with a spinoff series centered on one of Breaking Bad‘s most recognizable supporting characters, Bob Odenkirk‘s unflappable criminal lawyer Saul Goodman. There are no deals in place yet as the project is in its nascent stages, but I hear it is being conceived by Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan and series writer-producer Peter Gould. Source

Would people like to see Saul have his own show?

KoolKid

Can't see that coming to anything. Not something I would bother with.

Passenger

Better Call Saul? If Vince Gilligan is the show runner then the show would at least be worth watching.

Corkfeen

Better Call Saul, in discussions for months, will be a one-hour "prequel" to the acclaimed drama that will "focus on the evolution of the popular Saul Goodman character before he ever became Walter White's lawyer," the network said in a joint statement with Sony Pictures Television. The show's title is the cheesy attorney's ad slogan.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2013/09/11/breaking-bad-spinoff-saul-goodman/2801281/

I'm extra excited, hopefully Badger and Skinny Pete make cameo.

Wacker The Attacker

Hopefully Mike Ehrmantraut also comes back to life

Dman001

As long as Huell shows up, and tells us the origin of his legendary swiping abilities I'll be happy

JP Liz V1

http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/09/11/breaking-bad-spinoff-better-call-saul/

AMC is greenlighting a spin-off series that will feature Breaking Bad character Saul Goodman, played by Bob Odenkirk. While the network and studio, Sony Pictures Television, announced today only that they have reached a licensing agreement for the show, it’s expected to receive a series order from AMC once contracts are finalized.
The spin-off is designed as a one-hour prequel that will chronicle the exploits of the show’s charmingly disreputable lawyer, whose famous slogan is “Better Call Saul,” before he crossed paths with meth lord Walter White (Bryan Cranston). Breaking Bad creator/executive producer Vince Gilligan has been developing the spinoff concept with coexecutive producer Peter Gould

wesf

I'd rather a Gus spin off if there had to be one

Turpentine

This pleases me

Brendan Filone

I wonder if Mike, Gus. etc. will be in the prequel.

I'm also happy it's a prequel because that way we have no idea if Saul lives/dies up until the finale of Breaking Bad.

splashthecash

so this is set before breaking bad? if not, it kinda tells us that Saul survives...

Grimebox

This will either be very good or very bad

Basq

splashthecash wrote: »

so this is set before breaking bad? if not, it kinda tells us that Saul survives...

It says "prequel".. so before.

Lovely Bloke

Great news.

Agueroooo

anyone else not like prequels ?

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

what happens if the show gets 5 seasons and 5 years into the prequel saul looks 10 years older than his first appearance in BB

SweepTheLeg

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

what happens if the show gets 5 seasons and 5 years into the prequel saul looks 10 years older than his first appearance in BB

Breaking Bad has 5 seasons but only 2yrs have actually passed. Could use the same formula for the Saul spinoff.

EDIT: I understand now, I thought you were talking about setting the prequel like 3years before Breaking Bad and it running on for more than 3 seasons so it would overlap the actual Breaking Bad series.

Agueroooo

Agueroooo wrote: »

anyone else not like prequels ?

anyone not like spin offs.........frasier aside

SweepTheLeg

Deleted User wrote: »

anyone not like spin offs.........frasier aside

Angel!.. and technically The Simpsons is a spin off.

Yakuza

Agueroooo wrote: »

anyone else not like prequels ?

What could possibly go wrong?

Grimebox

I do not have high hopes for this at all to be honest. Spin-offs are notoriously bad

Mr.Prodston

Grimebox wrote: »

I do not have high hopes for this at all to be honest. Spin-offs are notoriously bad

Saul, Huell, Kuby and maybe even Mike? It excites me I'm not going to lie.

DrumSteve

Mr.Prodston wrote: »

Saul, Huell, Kuby and maybe even Mike? It excites me I'm not going to lie.

...But no Walter.

Yakuza

Walter in a prequel time frame would be a boring old Chemistry teacher, whereas Mike et al would be far more interesting.

Mr.Prodston

DrumSteve wrote: »

...But no Walter.

Who's to say Bryan Cranston couldn't guest appear down the line if it went well, even if you just saw an RV driving around the place for starters. No Walter wouldn't bother me though as there's plenty of other stories to tell. Mike and Huell working together could be pure gold.

splashthecash

I just don't think there is enough of a pull from the character for me to get interested in this.

Perhaps the final scene of the series would be the first contact he has re Walt?

colly_06

I'm guessing it won't have the same interesting camera angles and camera effects?

April O Neill

There's a good chance this will be crap.

Cork boy 55

Its just an one hour show ?

briany

The thing that worries me is that Saul's character was mainly for comic relief on Breaking Bad. In order to make him into a character that can carry a series, he'll need a bit more 'meat', a bit of balance. If that's achieved, then the series has potential.

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo

Lads, I don't want to come across like I'm 'breaking bad' but the piece quoted in the op is only 3 lines long and it states it's just a one hour prequel to help make this clear.

It doesn't say its a spin off series set in the future. :P

Yakuza

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo wrote: »

Lads, I don't want to come across like I'm 'breaking bad' news but the piece quoted in the op is only 3 lines long and it states it's just a one hour prequel to help make this clear.

It doesn't say its a spin off series set in the future. :P

FYP

Neil McCauleys Cooler Brother

Naw, couldn't be just a one-hour once-off (when did that format ever air?). Oh yeah, just reading here that it will be a one-hour special that will then be turned into a series.

April O Neill

briany wrote: »

The thing that worries me is that Saul's character was mainly for comic relief on Breaking Bad. In order to make him into a character that can carry a series, he'll need a bit more 'meat', a bit of balance. If that's achieved, then the series has potential.

Yep, but spin offs can work, and it's usually with a peripheral character (which Saul kinda is), so fingers crossed! I'm thinkin' 'Frasier', in particular, but then 'Frasier' is thus far the absolute gold standard of spinoffs. Most don't turn out so good...

briany

April O Neill wrote: »

Yep, but spin offs can work, and it's usually with a peripheral character (which Saul kinda is), so fingers crossed! I'm thinkin' 'Frasier', in particular, but then 'Frasier' is thus far the absolute gold standard of spinoffs. Most don't turn out so good...

It seems a little bit easier, I don't know why, for comedic spinoffs, like Frasier (which is excellent) to work but even though Saul can be a funny guy, I wouldn't see a Saul spinoff being particularly comedic in tone so I think we're looking at a balance similar to BB. To get it to work, though, we'll still need ways for the viewer to buy into Saul as the main character. Ways to make him more human, more sympathetic. Just generally more well rounded. If anyone can make it work, it'd be Vince Gilligan and his team. It'll be good to see what Odenkirk's full dramatic range is like, too.

Rascasse

Personally the only way I can see the show working is as a sort of darkish comedy show featuring Saul representing a variety of reprobates with their day-to-day legal problems. None of BB's suspense, depth, long story arcs etc. Gilligan won't be involved bar collecting a cheque. Peter Gould is 'spearheading the project' - i.e. overseeing it but won't be too be involved once up and running, while also collecting a cheque.

It'll either be great or won't get past the pilot.

Lovely Bloke

It will start off good and funny, then peter out and get cancelled about two seasons after it should have been.

One six part season of this is enough, just to round out Saul and bring him up to representing Walt & Jesse.

reece289

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

It will start off good and funny, then peter out and get cancelled about two seasons after it should have been.

One six part season of this is enough, just to round out Saul and bring him up to representing Walt & Jesse.

I don't understand this. The show won't just have Saul, but can flesh out the whole back story for Gus and Mike. In fact you could have Hank involved also, and Sauls goons.

Plenty to explore really.

murpho999

I think it's a great idea.

Saul has been a great character and played great by Bob Odenkirk.

The amount of stories that could come from that show are limitless, sure look at the people who are in his waiting room.

Heard Vince Gilligan say that BB is 80% dark and 20% comedy and that a Saul spin off would be the opposite.

Sinfonia

April O Neill wrote: »

Yep, but spin offs can work, and it's usually with a peripheral character (which Saul kinda is), so fingers crossed! I'm thinkin' 'Frasier', in particular, but then 'Frasier' is thus far the absolute gold standard of spinoffs. Most don't turn out so good...

Such a fine line between Frasier and Joey.

grames_bond

Sinfonia wrote: »

Such a fine line between Frasier and Joey.

don't mention the war!!

TerrorFirmer

snausages

I hope they allow it to become its own thing and not just Breaking Bad-lite. Being honest I'd prefer to see Bob Odenkirk get his own non-Saul Goodman show on AMC instead.

the_monkey

I wanna see this spin off !

dave1982

Agueroooo wrote: »

anyone else not like prequels ?

Worked very well with Spartacus