Bryan Cranston’s been having a pretty okay week, considering he’s almost two years removed from his career-defining turn as Walter White. He used said role to please thousands of young festivalgoers who definitely weren’t on drugs by announcing Above & Beyond’s track “Walter White” at the Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas, made headlines for not showing up on Better Call Saul yet, and in the lone non-Breaking Bad-related story, turned up as Jack Black’s panda dad in the Kung Fu Panda 3 trailer. It’s strange to make something he co-wrote and executive produced an afterthought to all that, but here we go: Amazon is in negotiations with Sony Pictures TV to pick up Cranston’s failed CBS drama pilot.
Sneaky Pete, as it’s called, follows a con man who takes on his former cellmate’s identity when he gets out of prison, landing at the bail bond business run by his “new” family. Giovanni Ribisi stars as Pete, with Marin Ireland, Libe Barer, Peter Gerety, Shane McRae, and celebrated character actor Margo Martindale filling out the cast.
Cranston’s co-writer, David Shore, is serving as showrunner, but according to Variety, “Sources cautioned that the deal has not been finalized,” meaning all that’s really required to lock it up is Cranston uttering “say my name” to the concerned parties and “you’re goddamn right” as they frantically sign the necessary papers. Some job perks stick around even after you’re fired.