By the time “Breaking Bad” reached the end of its run, few believed its creator could make a series just as successful. However, this idea was shown to be far from reality when the spin-off starring Bob Odenkirk made its debut in 2015.
By way of a prequel, “Better Call Saul” takes place in the years before AMC’s success, and as the series ends its run, some critics have deemed it even better than its predecessor. The funny thing is that this was on the verge of not happening, since the interpreter who was supposed to reprise the role of Saul Goodman initially rejected the project.
In a past interview with Howard Stern, Bob Odenkirk acknowledged that if it weren’t for the insistence of his family, he would have missed the opportunity to participate in the acclaimed show. The arguments? He didn’t like the idea of being away from his children for so long.
“I knew we were going to shoot in Albuquerque and I thought: ‘I can not do it, they are two ages too young.’ They were probably 14 and 12 years old, so I felt that I could not do it,” acknowledged the interpreter about his initial decision.
When the actor had made that determination with “Better Call Saul,” his manager was shocked. The figure on the small screen had also discussed the decision with his wife, who had chosen not to be involved in his choice.
However, while speaking to their manager, the Odenkirk sons overheard the discussion taking place. They didn’t like the idea that he would miss out on creating another great series just because he didn’t want to leave them, so they suggested that he reconsider the idea. After hearing their arguments, the star changed her mind.
A negotiation that paid off
With a fresh perspective on the series, Bob Odenkirk planned to call his manager to tell him that he was going to accept the role. Luckily for the Emmy-winning talent, the producers had decided to raise his salary to make the offer more attractive. They had no idea that I was already on board the project even without that extra incentive.