Warning! SPOILERS for Better Call Saul.
Kim Wexler, Howard Hamlin, and Nacho Varga.
The idea for a spinoff show about Saul Goodman was supposedly dreamt up as soon as Breaking Bad producers Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould began writing for Bob Odenkirk's shady lawyer. Throughout Better Call Saul's run, Gould and Gilligan have also indulged their desire for more spinoff content, and have employed a variety of animated and live-action shorts. In 2021, AMC announced the development of three short spinoffs: Slippin' Jimmy, Cooper's Bar, and Better Call Saul Employee Training Videos. These follow the success of the Emmy-winning short Employee Training: Legal Ethics With Kim Wexler, which accompanied Better Call Saul's fifth season.
Despite this slew of short content in the more spinoffs in the Breaking Bad world, and that "if I could do anything to encourage Vince and Peter to continue in this universe, I would do it." If this pans out, who would be the focus of any future Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad spinoffs? Here are the main contenders.
Kim Wexler Spinoff Show
The possibility of a show revolving around Better Call Saul's Kim Wexler is something that seems to appeal to both actress Rhea Seehorn, Vince Gilligan, and Peter Gould. In an interview (via Deadline) Seehorn addresses a potential series, by saying that Gilligan and Gould believe that "there are stories, mine [Kim's] included, that are worthwhile to continue to tell." While Kim Wexler's ultimate fate in Better Call Saul is yet to be revealed, and a point of speculation considering her absence in Breaking Bad, Seehorn states that "there's an ellipse to who Kim is and who Kim was." Obviously, Seehorn cannot reveal what will happen to her character in Better Call Saul's final episodes, but it's interesting that she believes there's adequate story about Kim's past to conceive a new spinoff.
A spinoff based around the Gene timeline in Better Call Saul.
Gus Fring Prequel Series
A Breaking Bad spinoff centered on the early career of Gus Fring appears to be the most likely option for another show set in Gilligan's universe. The rumors of such a show were intensified when actor Giancarlo Esposito revealed in an interview on the Late Show with James Cordon that Vince Gilligan told him "it's not over until it's over," which Esposito took as a hint that the audience may see the rise of Gus Fring on their screens in the future. A Gus Fring spinoff could have also been teased in Better Call Saul season 6, episode 7 when Gus speaks of the "guidance" he had as a child, which could reveal that Gus had a mentor that helped him into his life of crime.
With Gus' death in Breaking Bad, a prequel series remains the only possibility for de-aging CGI may have to be employed.
Hank Schrader Spinoff Series
While Gus Fring features heavily in Better Call Saul, one beloved character who is a much smaller presence in the prequel series is Hank Schrader. Similar to the discourse around possible shows about Gus and Kim, Peter Gould has also stirred up speculation about a Hank spinoff when he said (via Breaking Bad's best episode "Ozymandias," this version of Walter White certainly wouldn't be like the murderous Heisenberg that dominated the original series. Conversely, this spinoff could choose to take the focus away from Hank's family dynamics in order to feel like its own beast, and could instead focus on his exploits and rise throughout his time in the DEA.
Mike Ehrmantraut Police Show
Although Mike Ehrmantraut is certainly on the wrong side of the law in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, a Mike spinoff could see chronicle his time as a police officer in Philadelphia. Parts of his past have been divulged, such as the tragic death of his son, but Better Call Saul season 1, episode 6, "Five-O" is the most audiences have seen of Mike's backstory in Better Call Saul. In the episode, two Philadelphia police officers question Mike on the deaths of two fellow officers. It's revealed that Mike did indeed kill them, as their corrupt dealings led to the death of Mike's son, Matt. While this episode explains a lot of Mike's trauma and the mystery surrounding his son, a potential spinoff could delve deeper into Mike's relationship with Matt and Stacey. It could also go even further into the past and deal with Mike's wavering morality as he tiptoes onto both sides of the law. Similar to a possible Gus spinoff, with this show being set so far in the past it would either have to cast a younger Mike or it could use de-aging technology, something Better Call Saul does not use.
A Brand New Series In Breaking Bad's Universe
A centering around Gus, Mike, Hank, or Kim gain any traction, it may be time for the creators to move onto an entirely new IP. Regardless of what they do next, it's sure to have significant pulling power after the success of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.