'Better Call Saul' Casting: Aaron Paul Is Game, Dean Norris Is Not

Credit: AMC

Aaron Paul hasn't made it a secret that he'd love to return to the world of Breaking Bad, the show for which he's won two Supporting Actor Emmys. But not everyone from the original cast is able, or willing, to return for the upcoming spinoff, Better Call Saul.

Paul is interested in returning, yet Dean Norris, who played Walter White's DEA agent brother-in-law Hank Schrader, says he definitely won't be involved. Although this isn't out of any animus towards the series that made him a star, nor is it out of a lack of excitement for the new project. In fact, Norris is absolutely thrilled about Better Call Saul. But the versatile actor has commitments to the CBS series Under the Dome, in which he plays lead villain Big Jim Rennie.

"I don't think they'll let me do a little cable show," he said in an interview this week while promoting his upcoming film Small Time.

Yet even if Norris could return, it's apparently not an option he'd consider. "I think that experience was that experience. I'm not a big fan of kind of revisiting something that has already been done. But I think it's going to be awesome. So I can't wait to see it."

As for Paul, the actor says he's had "serious talks" with co-creator Vince Gilligan about once again playing the role of low-level drug dealer Jesse Pinkman. It's a role that wasn't mean to last much longer than one season on Breaking Bad, yet Paul brought so much to the role, including amazing chemistry (pun intended) with series lead Bryan Cranston, that it's nigh unthinkable to imagine the world of Breaking Bad without him.

"Anything Vince is involved with, I'm there," Paul said in an interview while promoting Need For Speed, his upcoming big screen action debut. "I owe him my entire career. And the idea of jumping into the skin of Jesse Pinkman again in his lighter days — because it's all a prequel — it would be fun."

Which actors from Breaking Bad would you like to see return? I don't know about anyone else, but I'm a Gus Fring man through and through. Here's hoping Giancarlo Esposito can stop by for an appearance at some point. Until then, we'll keep you posted on any Better Call Saul news we stumble across.

Better Call Saul, starring Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman, premieres this November on AMC.