For more than a decade, the story of how Bryan Cranston landed the lead role in Breaking Bad has been a staple of TV lore—a tale of studio hesitancy, last-minute decisions, and a handful of near-misses with Hollywood’s elite. But a recent twist has injected a fresh dose of intrigue: Steve Zahn, the actor long rumored (thanks to Cranston himself) to have been on the shortlist to play Walter White, has flatly denied ever being in serious contention for the part.
The origin of this rumor traces back to Cranston’s 2016 memoir, A Life in Parts, where he recounted that Zahn was among those considered for the role of the chemistry teacher-turned-meth kingpin. Over the years, Cranston has repeated versions of this claim in interviews, suggesting that network executives were so wary of his comedic image from Malcolm in the Middle that they nearly passed him over in favor of Zahn. But when The Hollywood Reporter caught up with Zahn in early January 2026, the actor’s response was a mix of amusement and disbelief.
“No,” Zahn said simply when asked if he was ever really in the running for Walter White. Told that Cranston had made the claim multiple times, Zahn burst out laughing and replied, “Oh, really!? Cranston is so awesome, but I find that hard to believe. I think Cranston is lying!” He even joked about confronting Cranston in London, where both actors are currently working. “He’s in London right now doing a play, and I’m shooting in London… So I’m going to go talk to him,” Zahn added, according to Mandatory.
Zahn’s lighthearted denial seems to close the door on one of the more persistent “what ifs” of TV casting. But it also shines a spotlight on just how uncertain Cranston’s own path to the role really was. According to TVLine and ComingSoon, studio executives at both Sony Pictures Television and AMC were wary of Cranston’s reputation as the goofy dad from Malcolm in the Middle. As one insider told The Hollywood Reporter back in 2012, “We all still had the image of Bryan shaving his body in Malcolm in the Middle. We were like, ‘Really? Isn’t there anybody else?’”
That skepticism led the powers that be to approach two bona fide Hollywood heavyweights: John Cusack and Matthew Broderick. Both were reportedly offered the role of Walter White before Cranston ever entered the serious conversation. But, as fate would have it, both men declined. Their decisions opened the door for series creator Vince Gilligan to make his case for Cranston.
Gilligan’s conviction didn’t come from Cranston’s sitcom work, but rather from his guest turn in a Season 6 episode of The X-Files titled “Drive.” In that episode, Cranston played Patrick Crump, a desperate man on the verge of death, whose blend of menace and vulnerability left a lasting impression on Gilligan. “That was a tricky part to cast on X-Files,” Gilligan told The Hollywood Reporter. “We needed somebody who could be dramatic and scary yet have an underlying humanity so when he dies, you felt sorry for him. Bryan nailed it.”
To convince the skeptical executives, Gilligan screened “Drive” for them. The performance was enough to change minds: Cranston got the part, and the rest is TV history. His portrayal of Walter White would go on to earn him four Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and a Golden Globe, cementing his legacy as one of television’s most transformative performances.
But what about Steve Zahn? While he may not have been in the running for Walter White, Zahn’s career is hardly on pause. In a recent interview with Collider, Zahn confirmed he’s deep into production on the next chapters of the Apple TV hit Silo. Asked if he was appearing in both Season 3 and Season 4, Zahn replied, “Yes. We’re almost done. I’m almost done. I flew here yesterday.”
Season 3 of Silo is now in the post-production phase, with Zahn noting that the visual effects-heavy show has no confirmed release date yet. “Season 3 is still in post. It's coming out. I don't know when. It’s a complicated show. There's a lot going on as far as visual effects,” he explained. Meanwhile, filming for Season 4 is underway, and Zahn described it as an even bigger, more ambitious undertaking: “We’re in [Season] 4 right now. We’re in the middle of 4, and it’s the biggest show. There’s so much going on. Season 4 is really cool. There’s a lot in 4. It spreads out all over. It gets really cool. There’s a lot of action.”
As the dust settles on the Steve Zahn–Walter White rumor, one thing is clear: the legend of Breaking Bad’s casting remains as compelling as ever. The show’s willingness to take risks on actors with unconventional résumés—be it Cranston, Aaron Paul, or Bob Odenkirk—helped create a universe where character and performance trumped celebrity. Paul, for instance, was so convincing as Jesse Pinkman that his character, originally slated to die in Season 1, was instead expanded into a co-lead. Odenkirk, known mostly for comedy before Better Call Saul, became another fan favorite.
In the end, the story behind Walter White’s casting is a reminder of the unpredictable alchemy that makes for television greatness. Studios may agonize over the right fit, audiences may bring their own preconceptions, and rumors may swirl for years. But sometimes, the magic is in the risk—and in the willingness to see beyond the obvious. As for Steve Zahn, he seems content to let Cranston have the last word, at least for now. “Cranston is so awesome, but I find that hard to believe. I think Cranston is lying!” he said, with a laugh that suggests he’s not taking any of it too seriously.
With Silo poised for its biggest season yet and Breaking Bad’s legacy only growing, both actors are proving that, whether or not the rumors are true, there’s always another act waiting in the wings.
