Back in those halcyon days of prestige TV shows releasing a new season each year and those seasons being consistently, competently written, Breaking Bad established itself among the very best.
In 2019, it got a spin-off in the form of movie El Camino, which was surprisingly strong. So, could Breaking Bad come back as a movie when it inevitably returns?
A Perfect Capper to the Show
The TV show rounds off Walt’s story as its grand finale, while Jesse Pinkman speeds away from the scene. El Camino picks up where we leave off, giving the character plenty of time to conclude his own story.
He’s flat broke, people want him dead, and he’s desperate to leave Albuquerque. While there’s certainly a thriller side to El Camino, much of it is an internalized drama in which Jesse must come to terms with and build from the trauma he’s experienced.
Importantly, even though it ran out on Netflix, El Camino proved that Breaking Bad can make it on the big screen. It’s a tightly written film from Vince Gilligan, making you wonder if a return to the setting would be in cinemas.
Continued Appeal of Breaking Bad
Adoration for Breaking Bad has only become stronger in the years since its finale. It’s widely appreciated as one of the best TV shows ever made, and remarkably spawned a spin-off series that’s equally held in high regard. So, it’s not a surprise that, where possible, the Breaking Bad name is still being touted even beyond the screen. News broke recently that stars of the show, Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul, will soon be expanding their Dos Hombres line to two types of tequila, continuing to bank on the hit show.
The show has even recently begun to license out the branding for online entertainment beyond film and TV. Breaking Bad Roulette Mega Fire Blaze brings the famed show to the table games of the British casino online. It’s all-in on the green and yellow aesthetic of the show, complete with fumes emanating from the wheel as you spin it. After betting, numbers will light up with yellow flickering flames to denote the boosted returns.
People continue to discuss the show, rewatch it, tune into its spin-offs, and engage in its increasing collection of expansions beyond film and TV. A return to the setting seems almost inevitable because of all this.
Another Return to Breaking Bad Coming Soon
On November 3, yet another new Breaking Bad release will arrive in yet another medium. The book Do What You’re Gonna Do: The Definitive Oral History of Breaking Bad is bound to entice fans of the show. It’s penned by Dean Norris, who plays Hank in the show, and is said to be loaded with exclusive interviews and some “never-before-heard stories” from those who created the incredible story.
New stuff for Breaking Bad is, apparently, never too far away. Its creator, Vince Gilligan, however, is currently tied up with a new story elsewhere. His first season of Pluribus landed well, and now he’s writing a second for Apple TV. In the past, he’s said that he can imagine himself revisiting the story, particularly “if I fail at everything that comes next.” He hasn’t failed with Pluribus, but clearly, he has some desire to bring back Breaking Bad eventually.
Breaking Bad ended many years ago, and yet, it continues in different forms. Should it make a return and a new spin-off be too much of an undertaking, it’s easy to see a film being the pick for Gilligan.
A Movie Could Be the Right Way Back
Breaking Bad has already proven that its world can survive beyond the original series without feeling unnecessary. El Camino worked because it had a clear purpose, a focused character, and the same careful storytelling that made the show so respected. If Vince Gilligan does decide to return to Albuquerque again, a movie could be the smartest route.
Rather than forcing another full series from a story that already has two celebrated endings, a film would allow the franchise to come back with focus and restraint. It could explore a new corner of the Breaking Bad universe, catch up with a familiar character, or tell a smaller crime story shaped by the legacy of Walt and Jesse. Most importantly, it would not need to overstay its welcome.
The appetite for Breaking Bad clearly remains strong, and the franchise has continued to expand in ways that keep it visible. A carefully made movie could satisfy that interest without damaging what came before. If the show is going to return, the big screen may be the cleanest and most compelling way to do it.
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