The Breaking Bad Star Who Almost Played Jerry On Rick And Morty
Rick Sanchez from "Rick and Morty" is the most intelligent being in the universe. He can create serums for practically any ailment, and he invented a device that allows him to traverse dimensions with ease. With that kind of brainpower at his disposal, it only seems appropriate that his greatest nemesis is a man who can't even take two strokes off his golf game without endangering everyone around him.
Jerry Smith is the pathetic beta to Rick's alpha, who nonetheless manages to stumble his way into his family's loving embrace every time he almost ruins their lives. A big part of that characterization comes down to the voice acting performance of Chris Parnell. The former "Saturday Night Live" cast member has a history of playing lovable wimps, from Cyril Figgis in "Archer" to Fred Shay in "Suburgatory." He seems like a natural fit to bring Jerry to life, but if the casting process had gone another way, then a different accomplished actor could've ended up taking the part.
Bryan Cranston also auditioned to play Jerry on Rick and Morty
These days, audiences may know Bryan Cranston best for his portrayal of Walter White in "Breaking Bad." The Emmy-winning actor perfectly embodied a man who transformed from a humble chemistry teacher to a meth kingpin across five seasons. Of course, before Cranston showed what he could accomplish as a dramatic actor, he was best known for roles in sitcoms like "Malcolm in the Middle" and "Seinfeld." As it turns out, Cranston could've returned to those roots had he landed the part of Jerry on "Rick and Morty" (via Screen Rant).
Watching Cranston play a wimpy, timid character would've been along the same lines as him playing Hal from "Malcolm in the Middle." There's no information about why the "Rick and Morty" team didn't cast him, but it likely all worked out for the best. Cranston certainly hasn't been short on work since "Breaking Bad" ended, and he even received an Academy Award nomination for his role in 2015's "Trumbo."
Surprisingly, Walter White still ended up influencing "Rick and Morty" in more ways than one. The house we see Rick living in during a made-up flashback in Season 3's "The Rickshank Rickdemption" looks identical to Walter's house on "Breaking Bad" (via Reddit). Additionally, the show's co-creator Dan Harmon has gone on the record saying Season 3's "Pickle Rick" drew influence from the "Breaking Bad" Season 2 episode "4 Days Out." That was the one where Walter and Jesse (Aaron Paul) become stuck in their RV in the middle of the desert (via Bleeding Cool).
One thing's clear from all of this: There are plenty of "Breaking Bad" fans on the "Rick and Morty" staff.