Breaking Bad Spin-Off Better Call Saul Will Reshape Original Series

Better Call Saul, the forthcoming Breaking Bad spin-off, will answer questions about Vince Gilligan's original, classic series and "force you to go back and check out things that happened," according to a Sony Television exec.

What started out life as a simple prequel series has evolved over time into Vince Gilligan's baby. Gilligan once said he'd direct the pilot then share showrunning duties with writer Peter Gould, who created the character of slimy criminal lawyer Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk).

However that has changed slowly over time as the show has entered production, and he is now deeply involved. It has also been revealed that Better Call Saul will take place before, after and during the events of the original series starring Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul.

Now we have learned that the parts that overlap will reveal things about the original series that perhaps went unanswered, and possibly reshape what we think of various events in the AMC series which came to a dramatic end last year.

Sony Pictures Television president Steve Mosko told delegates at the Mipcom TV conference in France (via Variety): "For all the Breaking Bad fans there will be a lot of twists and turns.

"I won't spill the beans too much, but it is going to force you to go back and check out things that happened in Breaking Bad to make sure you were clear about what you saw back then."

Breaking Bad was already a tight show with few plot holes, but its fanbase is certainly rabid enough to pour over the details of Gilligan's world, and it appears now that the existing tale will be receiving some interesting side notes during the spin-off series.

While we don't expect anything earth-shattering, the prospect does make Better Call Saul a much more enticing prospect than it initially seemed, when it appeared to be a mere cash-in on Breaking Bad's immense reputation.

That may well prove to be the case, but for now we're interested. Very interested.

Better Call Saul will debut in the US next February.