Breaking Bad writer Thomas Schnauz shares the alternate plan for season 5. He detailed how the final episodes of the seminal AMC series could have been very different.
What Was The Alternate Plan For Breaking Bad Season 5?
Schnauz was one of the writer-producers who spoke with /Film to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Breaking Bad Season 5, sharing the initial idea that Jesse (Aaron Paul) would have taken over the empire of Walter White (Bryan Cranston).
Schnauz says: “When we write, we flowchart a lot. And we say, ‘What if this happened? What if that happens?’ And one of the logical things is that Jesse is in the meth business and he’s proud of what he does and he’s good at it, and they’re making the big bucks. And so the logical thing would be that Jesse would continue and Walt would get too sick to continue or pull away and let Jesse take over the operation.”
Schnauz continued: “Walt, [unlike Jesse], can compartmentalize. They’ve done so many terrible things […] So many things that he’s pressed down that he tries to convince Jesse that yes, it was a horrible, terrible thing, but be strong and move on, and come with me on the successful journey that we’re on because Mike’s leaving so Walt doesn’t want to be on his own.”
Jesse’s story would ultimately achieve a measure of closure with the sequel film El Camino: A Breaking Bad Story. The character also appears in flashbacks during the final season of the spin-off Better Call Saul, with Paul reprising his role.
