Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans. Just when you think you’ve got your career all figured out; something pops up to remind you that the road to stardom is often paved with banana peels. Take Bryan Cranston, for instance—our beloved Walter White almost found himself in a bit of a pickle thanks to a scene from his previous gig, Malcolm in the Middle.
Yes, this transformation almost hit a roadblock thanks to one particular scene that had executives second-guessing their choice. They were still picturing him in the silly, lighthearted scenes from Malcolm in the Middle, particularly a memorable moment where he hilariously shaves his body. This left them struggling to see him as a dramatic figure capable of playing a drug lord in Breaking Bad.
From Goofy Dad to Drug Lord: The Journey of Bryan Cranston
Bryan Cranston went from being the lovable, goofy Hal Wilkerson in Malcolm in the Middle to the intense, morally ambiguous Walter White in Breaking Bad.
Malcolm in the Middle is a sitcom treasure trove, serving up chaotic family antics with a sprinkle of dark humor that puts most other family comedies in the shade. Cranston steals the spotlight, whether he’s roller skating like a bat out of hell, or accidentally transforming himself into a human paintbrush during one of his outrageous stunts. He really knows how to bring the house down!
You’d think that after Malcolm in the Middle wrapped up, transitioning to a serious role in Breaking Bad would be a walk in the park. No! According to The Hollywood Reporter, the executives were unconvinced. They couldn’t shake the image of Cranston, the sitcom dad, from their minds.
We all still had the image of Bryan shaving his body in ‘Malcolm in the Middle.’ We were like, ‘Really? Isn’t there anybody else?’
It’s like trying to cast a clown as a mob boss—good luck with that!
Enter Vince Gilligan, the genius behind Breaking Bad, who had more faith in Cranston than a kid believing in Santa Claus. He insisted that the executives watch the latter’s guest appearance on The X-Files, where he played a character suffering from radiation exposure. This wasn’t just another wacky role; it allowed him to flex his dramatic muscles. Gilligan explained:
That was a tricky part to cast on X-Files. We needed somebody who could be dramatic and scary yet have an underlying humanity so when he dies, you felt sorry for him. Bryan nailed it.
After watching that episode, the executives finally realized that Cranston was capable of delivering the expected performance. Thanks to Gilligan’s persistence, the casting finally clicked, and Cranston stepped into the shoes of Walter White—an iconic role that would redefine television and make “I am the one who knocks!” a household phrase.
How Bryan Cranston Went from The X-Files to Breaking Bad
Before Breaking Bad skyrocketed Bryan Cranston’s career, he had a memorable guest appearance on the cult classic The X-Files, starring the dynamic duo of Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny. It was here that producer Vince Gilligan first laid eyes on the actor, 68, who would later become his golden goose. During an appearance on WTF with Marc Maron, Gilligan recalled the moment that changed everything:
I had this part written where Agent Mulder had to be stuck in this car with this crazy guy who’s threatening to kill him… This guy, Bryan Cranston, walks in and there was this weight lifted off of him as soon as he read because he was so good.
Gilligan described Cranston’s character as “real scary”, a role that Cranston slipped into like a glove.
Now, before you think Cranston was a regular on The X-Files, let’s clear that up: his role was a one-off, but he certainly made a lasting impression. Years later, when Gilligan rediscovered Cranston on Malcolm in the Middle, the lightbulbs went off again.
While everyone knew him as the comedic genius from Malcolm in the Middle, the assumption was that he was just a great comedy actor. They couldn’t have been more wrong. Breaking Bad turned out to be a runaway hit, racking up awards like they were going out of style—two Golden Globes, multiple Emmys, and a few Writers Guild of America awards, to name a few.
So, if you’re looking to catch the brilliance of Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad, you can find it streaming on Netflix.
