In the world of cinema, few names garner the level of admiration and respect accorded to John Cusack. Imagine an alternate reality where this celebrated actor, famed for his versatile performances, assumed the iconic role of Walter White in the critically acclaimed series, Breaking Bad, a show cherished by vast numbers of devoted fans.
Yet, this intriguing scenario remained confined to the domain of imagination, never manifesting in the world of television. So, the question remains: Why did the stars never align for Cusack in the world of Breaking Bad?
John Cusack Was Never Offered The Role Of Walter White In Breaking Bad
In the annals of television history, Bryan Cranston’s portrayal of Walter White in the critically acclaimed series Breaking Bad remained a benchmark of excellence. However, the compelling prospect of John Cusack stepping into those iconic shoes was a possibility that never materialized.
The 57-year-old had confirmed that he was never up for the role of Walter White in Breaking Bad. Cranston played the chemistry teacher turned drug lord for five seasons of Breaking Bad between 2008 and 2013.
He starred alongside Aaron Paul (Jesse Pinkman), and together, they turned Breaking Bad into one of the most popular TV shows of the 2010s.
While Cranston had become interchangeable with the role of Walter White, he wasn’t the only one considered for the role.
Gilligan had pushed for Cranston to be cast from the beginning, but due to his comedic past with Malcolm in the Middle, AMC executives weren’t sold on giving him the lead in their drama.
It had been reported over the years that both Matthew Broderick and Cusack had been offered the role in Breaking Bad and turned it down, but Cusack had denied this scenario and said that was not the case.
The long-standing myth had been that the actor turned down the role of Walter White. But Cusack cleared this myth through his tweet; he tweeted at someone who asked that very question of his turning down the movie, and the actor replied, “Didn’t turn it down. U crazy.”
However, the actor also clarified in an interview with Variety. He stated,
“No, I never was, and it was one of those things where I heard it so many times I started to think maybe it was true. And I ran into the creator of Breaking Bad [Vince Gilligan], and I said, Am I crazy or did you offer me Walter White? He’s like, No.”
Yet, the artist also expressed his satisfaction at Cranston’s selection for the starring part.
John Cusack Holds No Regrets Over Bryan Cranston Securing The Role In Breaking Bad
Bryan Cranston’s embodiment of Walter White in the critically acclaimed series Breaking Bad stands as an enduring standard of merit. In the wake of the series’ skyrocketing popularity, one might assume any actor would covet the role of Heisenberg.
Cranston’s stellar performance earned him three consecutive Lead Actor Emmy awards, a testament to his exceptional talent. But did Cusack harbor any regrets about not pursuing the role?
In an interview with Variety, Cusack unequivocally stated otherwise. A fan of both Breaking Bad and the Better Call Saul performer, the High Fidelity star asserted that everything unfolded as it should have. He said,
“I don’t even want to think that because the absolute perfect actor got it. It was the perfect actor for the piece, so like why would you want to take away Bryan Cranston’s performance in that? That would be bad karma.”
Cusack emphasized the idea that the 67-year-old was the ideal choice for the role, and altering that outcome would disrupt the balance.
Despite the series’ immense acclaim, Cusack’s contentment highlights the wisdom of an experienced actor who values the right role over any role in the ever-evolving world of entertainment.
Breaking Bad is streaming on Netflix.
Source: Twitter
