Masked singer
The story of Jimmy McGill is about to start slipping away for good.
Breaking Bad prequel Better Call Saul has been renewed for a sixth season, but that season will serve as the show’s last, it was announced on Thursday at the TCA’s Winter Press Tour during a panel for the AMC drama.
The news isn’t terribly surprising as the show barrels toward the events depicted in Breaking Bad, and those on the show seemed to hint in recent years at a run in this range of seasons. The 13-episode season 6 will bring the show’s episode count to 63, which is more than Bad. (Or tied, if you count the recently released Breaking Bad movie, El Camino.) Focusing on the dubious exploits of slippery lawyer Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) — better known as Saul Goodman on Breaking Bad — Better Call Saul has been the rare spin-off that saw great creative success apart from the legendary, beloved show that spawned it. Created by Breaking Bad co-executive producer Peter Gould and Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, the critically acclaimed drama has been nominated for 32 Emmys over its four-season run, including nods for Outstanding Drama Series and Lead Actor (for Odenkirk) for all four seasons. The show also claimed a Peabody Award in 2018.
Michele K. Short/AMC/Sony Pictures Television
Production on season 6 of Better Call Saul is slated to begin later this year, with the final batch of episodes airing in 2021. And this may be it for real. Maybe: “I have no plans to keep the universe going after this wonderful series ends,” Gilligan told reporters. “I always caveat it with ‘never say never’… but you don’t want to drive it into the ground.”
While another set of Breaking Bad alums will grace Saul in season 5 — keep an eye out for Dean Norris, Steven Michael Quezada, and the late Robert Forster — Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul will not, according to Gould, leaving only the final season for a Walt and/or Jesse sighting. “I would love to see them in Better Call Saul before it all ends,” said Gilligan. Quipped Breaking Bad alum and Better Call Saul star Jonathan Banks: “I think I speak for Bobby and I when I say I hope the door doesn’t hit ’em on the ass. Bobby and I carried those two rat bastards.”
Fans have been waiting an awfully long time for Saul‘s return; the season 4 finale aired in October 2018, with Jimmy revealing that he was assuming the name of Saul Goodman when his law license was reinstated. Peter Gould, who created the series with Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, broke down the big moves of the season 4 finale with EW over here, and dropped this tease for season 5: “We know who Saul Goodman is, but who is Saul Goodman to Kim Wexler [Rhea Seehorn]?”
Better Call Saul also stars Giancarlo Esposito, Patrick Fabian, and Michael Mando.
The season 5 premiere hits AMC on Feb. 23 at 10 p.m., and the following night, the second episode will air in the show’s regular Monday slot at 9 p.m.
Related content:
- Bob Odenkirk explains Jimmy’s ‘watershed moment of joy and energy’
- Bob Odenkirk reveals how he wants Jimmy and Kim’s story to end
- See first photos of Better Call Saul season 5
Episode Recaps
Saul Goodman, first introduced in Breaking Bad, gets his own Vince Gilligan prequel.
