On camera, as everyone is finally coming to realize, Bryan Cranston has proven that he is an avalanche of power-acting. The quality of his performance is in no small way connected to his appreciation for writing. Cranston has, for years now, been quite vocal about his dedication to story and character development. So, it’s no surprise that he’s interested in pursuing the craft of writing himself.
Cranston recently told Hollywood.com that he is in the process of developing a script, which he himself adapted from the novel Home Again by David Wiltse, into a film with producer Mark Johnson (Breaking Bad, Rain Man, The Chronicles of Narnia movies); furthermore, in addition to having penned the script, Cranston will be taking on the directorial role.
In the interview, Cranston recalled a film he wrote and directed in 1999 called Last Chance fondly, speaking about his continuing aspiration to pursue behind-the-scenes work. Cranston has also directed two episodes of Breaking Bad and seven episodes of his previous series, Malcolm in the Middle.
Cranston went on to explain the story of his Home Again adaptation, which he plans to retitle:
“It’s basically a very strong father-son story, and a murder-mystery. An FBI agent who suddenly quits the department and takes his son and his wife and moves back to his hometown of Cascade, Nebraska, to rekindle family values and pay attention now. He’s been working for the FBI for years, so he’s been home sporadically. And his son is now sixteen, very sensitive, and looks upon his father like sort of a stranger… And then there’s a murder that happens in the little town that they move to, which kills [the father’s] whole stance on, ‘Things are better in these small towns!’ And then things unravel, and basically, the father and son come together at the end and save each other emotionally and literally.”
Cranston acknowledges that his Breaking Bad schedule will conflict with the development of this film (which he happily calls a “lovely problem”), but he expressed the possibility that production may begin next year.
We’re all for it. Cranston’s at the top of his game and a Renaissance thespian. Comedy, drama and everything in-between—we’re ready to see this guy tackle his own material.
