Breaking Bad is one of the most beloved TV shows of all-time. With a mixture of incredible acting, a gripping story, and a large group of rich characters, it quickly put AMC on the map as one of the best networks for original television content. It’s also one of the handful of shows that feels like it was consistent in quality from start to finish, even having a finale that satisfied fans and critics alike.
While many would say that the show ended perfectly and should be left alone, AMC has gone on to make a prequel series about the origins of scummy lawyer Saul Goodman which has some flash forwards to show where Goodman ended up post-Breaking Bad. That has also achieved critical acclaim with many critics saying Better Call Saul is the best show on TV at the moment.
Now, AMC looks to continue to expand the Breaking Bad universe with a film following Jesse Pinkman. The film is currently a big secret but some details have made their way into some reputable sources such as The Hollywood Reporter who says that the film is actually set to film this month with series creator Vince Gilligan potentially helming it as director.
Gilligan has penned the script for the film which has gone by the codename of Greenbriar and follows a “kidnapped man on his quest for freedom”. Obviously, if you’ve seen Breaking Bad’s finale you know that Walter White’s protege, Jesse Pinkman, was kidnapped and enslaved by neo-nazis to make crystal meth for them. When White comes to tie up loose ends, he has the opportunity to kill Pinkman who has caused some headaches for him but spares him and lets him go.
Pinkman speeds off into the night, never to be seen again in the final minutes of the show. We don’t get much closure regarding him. That looks to change as /film is reporting that the film will follow the aftermath of the finale from Pinkman’s perspective. What might that entail given the neo-nazis are dead along with Heisenberg himself?
Well, an old interview answer from Vince Gilligan following the series finale may answer that: “My personal feeling is that he got away. But the most likely thing, as negative as this sounds, is that they’re going to find this kid’s fingerprints all over this lab and they’re going to find him within a day or a week or a month. And he’s still going to be on the hook for the murder of two federal agents. But yeah, even though that’s the most likely outcome, the way I see it is that he got away and got to Alaska, changed his name, and had a new life. You want that for the kid. He deserves it.”
Whether or not Jesse Pinkman can escape the law in this new film is a mystery. There’s currently no known release date but as we said, the film does plan to begin shooting this month in New Mexico where the show was based with Aaron Paul reprising his role.
There’s no word if this will make it to the big screen or be an original film for TV which is what AMC will be doing with The Walking Dead. The Walking Dead’s now former protagonist Rick Grimes has moved away from the spotlight of the show to lead three original movies in the universe that will air on the network. Only time will tell if this untitled Breaking Bad successor will follow a similar formula but Hollywood Reporter suggested this film would clock in at around the two-hour mark.
