Not competing with Walter White, says 'Better Call Saul' star

Actor Bob Odenkirk, who plays the lead in "Better Call Saul", a spin-off of hit TV series "Breaking Bad", says he is not trying to compete with the original show's protagonist Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston.
The new TV series follows the story of small-time lawyer James Morgan "Jimmy" McGill (Odenkirk), six years before his appearance on "Breaking Bad" as Saul Goodman.
The 52-year-old actor said the makers and the star-cast of the prequel series are just trying to do their best to make "Better Call Saul" as interesting as the first series.
"I don't think I have to one-up Walter White or 'Breaking Bad'. We all thought about this show, and the phenomenon of 'Breaking Bad'. Part of it can't be competed with by any show, because streaming TV was not a thing when 'Breaking Bad' began, and it was when it ended," Odenkirk said in an interview.

The actor said he is under no pressure to emulate the success of the original character or the show.
"As for the creative part, we just do our best to make a unique and interesting show. I probably should feel the pressure, but I just don't. Maybe it's because I've been in show business for thirty years... I feel happy and excited about this great, funny and unique show."

"Better Call Saul" currently airs on Colors Infinity in India. The series has been created by Peter Gould and Vince Gilligan, who was also behind "Breaking Bad". The series also features Rhea Seehorn, Patrick Fabian, Michael Mando and Michael McKean.

In "Breaking Bad", Odenkirk's character was the comic relief of the show. The actor said Saul Goodman remains comedic in the new series, but his role is much more challenging, laden with many emotional scenes.
"Saul remains funny. There are challenging and emotional scenes, and those stuck with me. But then I watched the pilot and I remembered how funny it all was. It has a crazy, totally Saul Goodman caper in the middle that goes haywire, and you just smile because you know it is not going to wind up working out," the actor said.
When asked if he relates to his on-screen character, Odenkirk said he does find resemblance with Jimmy McGill a lot more than with Saul Goodman as the latter is very duplicitous.

"Not Saul, but Jimmy McGill. He is not living with the world directly and he is suffering for it.