‘Better Call Saul’: ‘Breaking Bad’ Spinoff Gets Second Season at AMC
AMC has ordered a second season of “Better Call Saul” and moved the premiere date for its hotly anticipated “Breaking Bad” prequel to 2015, the cable channel announced today.
The second season order is for 13 episodes, bringing the series total to 23. Specific air dates for either season have not been announced, but AMC said they will join “The Walking Dead” and its accompanying “Talking Dead” recap program in the first quarter of each of the next two years.
“Breaking Bad” creator and showrunner Vince Gilligan is directing the premiere episode, which stars Bob Odenkirk as the tricky, combover-embracing New Mexican criminal lawyer. Gilligan is co-showrunning along with fellow “Breaking Bad” alum Peter Gould, creator of the Saul Goodman character. “Breaking Bad” actor Jonathan Banks is also returning for the series, which is set before the events in the Bryan Cranston-starring original series. Michael McKean is joining the cast in a new role.
“Breaking Bad” scribes Schnauz and Gennifer Hutchison are also returning. Bradley Paul and former “Breaking Bad” writers’ assistant Gordon Smith are also part of the writing staff. “Better Call Saul” is executive produced by Gilligan, Gould, Mark Johnson (“Breaking Bad,” “Diner,” “Rain Man”) and Melissa Bernstein (“Breaking Bad,” “Rectify,” “Halt and Catch Fire”) with “Breaking Bad” alums Stewart A. Lyons and Schnauz as co-executive producers for Sony Pictures Television.
“Production on ‘Better Call Saul’ is under way and we could not be more proud of nor more excited about the work to date. We join the fans in eager anticipation for this series and today we happily confirm that our initial ‘Saul’ order is for two seasons and a total of 23 episodes,” said AMC president Charlie Collier. “When introducing any series, especially one with the DNA of ‘Breaking Bad,’ there are countless factors to consider in making sure the show gets the launch it deserves. We have a strong history with Vince, Peter, Bob, the studio and so many involved with this production; we are enjoying the process on ‘Saul’ and all share a focus on making it a true television event. No half measures.”
AMC also released its first official set photo, which is shown above.
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