The Breaking Bad series was a huge hit and earned a special place in the world of television. Its success catapulted Aaron Paul to fame as Jesse Pinkman and opened the door for future success.
But rather than take the typical route to land a leading role in a blockbuster film, he chose the path less traveled: Showing a courage that many fear, he decided to pursue independent filmmaking.
Aaron Paul makes bold career confessions after ‘Breaking Bad’
Breaking Bad was a milestone in Aaron Paul’s career, and his performance as Jesse Pinkman impressed many and earned him rave reviews and praise from critics.
His character complements Bryan Cranston’s Walter White with his own vulnerabilities, guilt, and moral conflicts.
In a 2019 interview with The Guardian, the actor spoke about the many opportunities he was given to play leading roles in big-budget films.
But the actor made a bold career move to star in independent films that were closer to his artistic vision.
After Breaking Bad, there were a few roles I jumped at just to move the needle in a certain direction. I get offered a lot of leading roles, but I’m not really interested. My heart is in solid independent filmmaking.
It’s a pretty bold admission from an actor who has allowed himself to pursue more nuanced acting instead of chasing high-profile commercial projects.
His artistic vision has allowed him to expand his portfolio with quality projects that reflect his dedication to independent cinema.
Aaron Paul’s post-‘Breaking Bad’ projects
After the AMC series, which ran for five seasons before wrapping up in 2013, Paul expanded on his acting skills by taking on bold, unconventional roles.
One such film was Need for Speed (2014), which failed to impress critics despite being a commercial production starring the likes of Michael Keaton, but the 45-year-old actor’s performance was praised by critics and proved his wide range of talent as an actor.
The 2015 film “Eye in the Sky” is another example where he plays a supporting role but is integral to the story, delivering a down-to-earth performance that convinces audiences that they can have fun outside of the limelight.
He also co-produced and starred in the TV series The Path (2016-2018), a complex story about a religious cult that saw him deviate from traditional leading roles.
In the show, which ran for three seasons, the actor played a central character called Eddie Lane, who becomes deeply involved in the fictional Meyerist movement.
The actor is in talks to reprise his role as Pinkman in the sequel film “El Camino,” released as a Netflix original, and he’s set to reprise his role in “Ash,” the upcoming sci-fi horror film starring Eiza Gonzalez.
Meanwhile, his performance in Breaking Bad is available to watch on Netflix.
