Vince Gilligan, creator of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul has confirmed that a new deal with Sony Pictures Television has been extended for another four years. The deal will mean that Gilligan, who has been with Sony for the last 15 years, will be part of one of the longest collaborative partnerships with the prospective four-year deal that has been announced, taking the contract to an almost perfect 20 years in total.
The deal – what do we know?
Speaking to Deadline about the new deal, Gilligan said:
“Recently I was talking to my excellent agents (at ICM Partners,) and they reminded me my current deal was at its end. I pondered my options for maybe twenty seconds, then decided to re-up. It was a no-brainer: Sony is very generous to me, they’ve been a great place to work and I like everybody there, from Tony Vinciquerra, Jeff Frost and Jason Clodfelter on down. Also, having put in fifteen years already, I’m only a decade shy of receiving a gold Walkman.”
Jason Clodfelter, Co-President of SPT Studios concurred, saying of Gilligan:
“He is an integral member of the Sony Pictures family, an inimitable creative genius in everything he does, and a remarkable friend. He has been instrumental in the success of Sony Pictures Television and words can’t express how elated we are that Vince will continue to create groundbreaking and momentous stories with us.”
Looking at Vince Gilligan’s body of work, it’s easy to see why the deal has come to be – he is currently working on gripping Breaking Bad prequel, Better Call Saul, which is in the production stages for its finale as it approaches its sixth and last series.
Starring Bob Odenkirk as creative lawyer Saul Goodman, the show delves into the backstory of characters in the Breaking Bad universe, not only explaining why they are why they are, but creating an additional maze of plot twists and turns that make every episode a little drama in its own right, prior to introducing Walter White and Jesse Pinkman (played by Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul).
As with the sister show Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul has received widespread critical acclaim, and has regularly been nominated for numerous awards including 40 Primetime Emmys, going on to win two, while the Breaking Bad sequel El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, was nominated for 4 Primetime Emmys, WGA and DGA Awards for bookending the Breaking Bad series in Gilligan’s momentous signature style.
Future projects in the new deal
Following the final series of Better Call Saul, Gilligan is also developing a new project, although he has remained tight-lipped about the details publicly as of yet. Speculation on what style or genre of work this might potentially be is wide-ranging, as Gilligan’s previous credits include a range of works: he has previously been a writer and producer for The X-Files, was the co-creator of its spin-off The Lone Gunmen, as well as being the co-writer of the screenplay for the 2008 film Hancock.
Whatever direction the new series may take, Gilligan’s numerous and loyal fans are no doubt excitedly awaiting the impending ending of the Breaking Bad prequel Better Call Saul, and will be anticipating the opportunity to venture head first into Gilligan’s next creative universe – wherever this may be.
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