TV - Movies
The Surprising
Person Who
Helped Cast
Chuck In Better
Call Saul
By JENNIFER MASHUGA
“Better Call Saul” began as a joke among the “Breaking Bad” writers, shortly after Bob Odenkirk first appeared as Saul in Season 2, but it has grown into a highly acclaimed prequel series. While executive producer Vince Gilligan already had Michael McKean in mind for the part of Chuck, it was a “Breaking Bad” actor who helped him get on board.
McKean was performing in a play with Bryan Cranston, and McKean remembered, “Right before we were going to make an entrance together, Bryan turns to me and says, ‘Yeah, you should really play the brother on 'Better Call Saul.’” McKean had worked with Vince Gilligan before on “The X Files” in guest appearances, and they had always wanted to work together again.
McKean has been nominated for an Emmy for his role as Chuck, a brilliant lawyer who believes he suffers from electromagnetic hypersensitivity but actually has a psychosomatic illness. Unfortunately, viewers won't see more of McKean's fantastic acting on the show — save for potential flashbacks — as Chuck died in a self-inflicted house fire at the end of Season 3.