Summary

• The idea of a Gus Fring prequel series came from Esposito himself, focusing on Fring's rise through the criminal underworld.
• Young actors like Keith Powers, Michael Ward, and Caleb McLaughlin could bring a fresh take to the iconic role of Gus Fring.
• De-aging technology could potentially allow young Giancarlo Esposito or Justiin Davis to reprise the role of Gus Fring in a prequel series.

Amazingly, more than 10 years since the series finale of Breaking Bad there’s still an insatiable desire for content within that world, and one perfect option for a prequel series would be to focus on the early history of Gus Fring. However, to achieve this, a daunting task must be completed, and that’s recasting Giancarlo Esposito with an actor capable of living up to his iconic performance. Luckily, there’s no shortage of ionate, talented, and underappreciated young actors working today who would jump at the opportunity to enter the acclaimed and beloved Breaking Bad universe.

The idea of a Gus Fring prequel series actually came from Esposito himself, who recently shared his thoughts for a series focusing on Fring’s rise through the criminal underworld as a young man. It would have been great if this series was made with Esposito immediately after Breaking Bad, in conjunction with the equally impressive prequel Better Call Saul, but the reality is, for this to work, Gus would likely need to be recast. Considering this, there are plenty of amazing actors who could play Fring in a Breaking Bad prequel.

9 Keith Powers

Keith Powers is known as Todd Archer in What/If

Powers has both the looks and the skill to lead a Gus Fring series focused on the Los Pollos Hermanos founder in his early 30s.

With impressive ing roles in movies like Straight Outta Compton and The Tomorrow War, Keith Power has exactly the kind of up-and-coming quality needed to truly shine in a Breaking Bad prequel. Having already showcased his acting chops across film and television, including a main role in the thriller series What/If, Powers has both the looks and the skill to lead a Gus Fring series focused on the Los Pollos Hermanos founder in his early 30s. While Powers' career has steadily been taking off over the past 10 years, a role like this would break him into the mainstream.

8 Michael Ward

Michael Ward is known as Jamie Tovell in Top Boy

The Jamaican-British actor Michael Ward has made a name for himself with acclaimed roles in the crime drama Top Boy and as the male lead in Sam Mendes’ romantic drama Empire of Light. With so much success in the UK, it’s only a matter of time before Ward’s discovered by an American audience. One great way to do this would be as Gus Fring in a Breaking Bad prequel and the crime antics of Top Boy, mixed with the longing romance of Empire of Light, expertly showcased the duality of Gus Fring’s tragic backstory.

7 Daryl McCormack

Daryl McCormack is known as Matt Claffin in Bad Sisters

The Irish actor Daryl McCormack came to mainstream attention through his role as Isaiah Jesus on Peaky Blinders and expertly blended comedy with drama on the black comedy series Bad Sisters on Apple TV+. A real star in the making, the role of Gus Fring in a Breaking Bad prequel could be just what McCormack needs to find the audiences he deserves. While McCormack would need to lose his Irish accent for the role of Fring, some of the best portrayals on prestige American television, like Hugh Laurie on House, were done by non-Americans.

6 Caleb McLaughlin

Caleb McLaughlin is known as Lucas Sinclair in Stranger Things

As Stranger Things heads toward its grand finale, it’s only natural to wonder what projects the cast will be a part of next, and one great role for Caleb McLaughlin, who played Lucas Sinclair, would be Gus Fring. At just 22 years old, if McLaughlin was to be considered for this Breaking Bad prequel, it would focus on the earliest years of Fring’s adulthood. A look at how he was first exposed to a life of crime, the way his sociopathic tendencies developed, and a glimpse at the man he was before he got so cold could be fascinating television.

5 LaKeith Stanfield

LaKeith Stanfield is known as Darius Epps in Atalnta

The career of LaKeith Stanfield has been one impressive success after another these last few years through memorable roles in movies like Sorry to Both You and the acclaimed series Atlanta. The breadth and scope of Stanfield’s work has been impressive and he’s more than proved he’s up to the task of taking on the iconic role of Gus Fring in a Breaking Bad prequel series. With equal skill in comedy and drama, Stanfield could walk the fine line of intense thrills and laugh-out-loud humor that the world of Breaking Bad was known for.

4 Charlie Barnett

Charlie Barnett is known as Alan Zaveri in Russian Doll

Charlie Barnett gained widespread recognition as Alan Zaveri on the Netflix series Russian Doll where he showcased great skill at portraying both the nuances of a complex and troubled man while exhibiting the comedic skills needed to make the show a success. As Gus Fring in a Breaking Bad prequel, Barnett could bring a real sense of humanity to the role of a man who once believed in love and had it ripped away from him at the hands of the Mexican cartel. Fring would be a challenging role, but Barnett has already proved he’s up to it.

3 RJ Cyler

RJ Cyler is known as Earl in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

After receiving critical acclaim for his role in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl in 2015, RJ Cyler appeared in across film and TV in works including The Harder They Fall, Scream: Resurrection, and Swamp Thing. However, Cyler has yet to truly showcase his skill as the leading man of a television series, and one perfect part for this would be as Gus Fring in a Breaking Bad prequel series. Having even demonstrated his skill in action movies as the Blue Ranger Billy Cranston in Power Rangers, Cyler has the range to take on the role of Gus Fring.

2 De-Aged Giancarlo Esposito

Giancarlo Esposito is known as Gus Fring in Breaking Bad

Of course, the perfect actor to play a young Gus Fring would be a young Giancarlo Esposito which, thanks to the power of de-aging technology, could be a possibility. Esposito has explained his interest in a Gus Fring prequel focused on “the rise of Gus” so there’s no doubt that if the opportunity did arise, he would be board to return as his most famous character. While de-aging technology can sometimes feel unrealistic, it has been improving every year, and if the acting, directing, and writing was on par with Breaking Bad then the prequel would be a massive success.

1 Justiin Davis

Justiin Davis is known as Young Stan Edgar in The Boys

Not only does David bear a striking resemblance to younger Esposito, but he also played the younger version of Stan Egar, Esposito’s character on the hugely successful Prime Video series The Boys.

The obvious choice to replace Giancarlo Esposito as Gus Fring in a Breaking Bad prequel would be the man who has already shown he’s up to the challenge, Justiin Davis. Not only does David bear a striking resemblance to younger Esposito, but he also played the younger version of Stan Egar, Esposito’s character on the hugely successful Prime Video series The Boys. Viewers reacted well to Davis’ portrayal and, if he was given the opportunity, Davis’ would be equally as impressive in the iconic role of Gus Fring.