Summary

• A Gus Fring spinoff series could work by using a split timeline format, similar to Better Call Saul, retaining actor Giancarlo Esposito's involvement.
• Any Gus Fring show without Giancarlo Esposito wouldn't feel right, as he is synonymous with the role and key to the character's success.
• While a Breaking Bad prequel focusing on a younger Gus Fring would require recasting, involving Esposito in a producer role could help stay true to the character.

Giancarlo Esposito recently commented on a Breaking Bad prequel surrounding his franchise character, Gus Fring. If such a series took inspiration from fellow Breaking Bad spinoff show, Better Call Saul, there's a way it could retain Esposito.

Gus Fring was introduced in Breaking Bad season 2, where he was depicted as a fast-food restaurant owner who used his business as a front for a vast drug empire. After serving as the show's primary antagonist until the end of season 4, Gus became one of several characters to return in Better Call Saul. Owing to Gus's popularity, a spinoff show centering on the character has long been rumored. However, a Gus series isn't without its challenges. Nevertheless, if it makes use of a trick previously used by Better Call Saul, a Gus spinoff could work.

A Gus Fring Spinoff Would Need To Recast Giancarlo Esposito's Breaking Bad Character

The Gus Fring Spinoff Makes More Sense As A Prequel

Since Breaking Bad already depicted Gus' death, as well as the fact that a big chunk of the character's life prior to Breaking Bad was already depicted in Better Call Saul, a hypothetical spinoff series revolving around the character would have to take place before the events of both shows, which isn't a bad thing. After all, a series depicting Gus's younger years as a petty dealer and his building of a massive drug empire certainly sounds like must-watch TV. Though, it does mean that Giancarlo Esposito wouldn't be able to reprise his most famous role.

Even if a spinoff show was set just before his first appearance on Better Call Saul, the character would still be in his forties, and there's no way Esposito could realistically pull it off.

Esposito is currently 65 years old. For reference, when he first ed Breaking Bad in 2009, he was only 50. Even if a spinoff show was set just before his first appearance on Better Call Saul, the character would still be in his forties, and there's no way Esposito could realistically pull it off. Therefore, the character would need to be recast. While there's no shortage of actors who could replace Giancarlo Esposito, a Gus-centric series without Esposito's involvement doesn't feel quite right.

A Spinoff Could Keep Giancarlo Esposito Around With 1 Better Call Saul Trick

A Gus Fring Prequel Could Copy Better Call Saul's Timeline Approach

Fortunately, there is a solution that could keep Giancarlo Esposito in the role, and it's one that was already tried and tested on Better Call Saul. The bulk of Better Call Saul took place in the early-mid '00s, prior to the events of Breaking Bad. Nevertheless, the show made use of flashforwards by filming black-and-white sequences set in 2010, which were set after Breaking Bad's conclusion. It was a neat trick that allowed for some big Better Call Saul reveals and meant that the show's writers could depict parallels between a young Saul Goodman and the man he would become.

Both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul are available to stream in their entirety on Netflix.

In theory, a series focusing on Gus could use a similar split timeline format. However, while Bob Odenkirk portrayed both the younger and older versions of Saul in Better Call Saul, owing to its smaller time difference, a Gus series could make use of a younger actor for the scenes set in the past and still keep Esposito for stuff set later. It's a good compromise that would allow a new actor to step into the role and show what they can do while also meaning the character's original actor isn't forgotten about.

A Gus Fring TV Show Wouldn't Be The Same Without The Original Actor

Any Gus Fring Show Would Need Giancarlo Esposito

While some TV characters can be portrayed by multiple actors without anyone batting an eyelid, Gus Fring isn't one of them. Giancarlo Esposito is synonymous with the role, and the multiple awards and nominations he collected over the years for his work on both shows only proves how highly his performance was regarded. Esposito was born to play Gus, and the thought of anyone else in the role doesn't sit right. Additionally, there's a danger that any other actor playing the character would feel like they were doing an imitation of Esposito's performance.

That being said, with Esposito's involvement, it's possible that a spinoff series focusing on a younger version of Gus Fring could work. Even if Esposito himself only took on a producer role or acted as a consultant for the show, it would help the series to stay true to the character and could help any prospective actors to stick to the essence of Gus Fring. A Better Call Saul-style Breaking Bad spinoff centering on Gus has yet to be confirmed. However, there's no doubt that one would be better off with Esposito's attachment.