Bob Odenkirk Says He Doesn’t Like Saul Goodman

Phyllis Applegate and Bob Odenkirk in "Better Call Saul"

Bob Odenkirk has said he wasn’t sure about Better Call Saul at first and that he dislikes the character of Saul Goodman.

In an interview with EWOdenkirk who plays Jimmy McGill, aka Saul Goodman, said he thought the show was a “huge risk” and that he doubted that Saul was likable enough as a character for the Breaking Bad spin-off to work.

“I always thought it was a huge risk, and all I wanted was them to do it for their own reasons, and not because I asked them to do it or pressured them to do it,” he said. “So I basically backed off every single time it was suggested to me. I think Vince might have thought it was kind of weird to suggest to an actor, ‘What if I create a show for you?’ and have that actor look at him and go, ‘I dunno. It’s your free time. Do what you want with your time.’

“My first question when we talked was, ‘How do you make him likable?’ Because I didn’t like that guy. I mean, I like watching him—like a car wreck when you’re not in it. It’s intriguing. It pulls you in. But he’s a bad guy.”

He also spoke about the upcoming season and emphasized that he is reluctant for his character to become Saul:

“I’m having to confront the fact that he is becoming Saul, and I don’t like Saul,” he shares. “If he was my friend, I would say, ‘Don’t go that route.'”

Season 4 of Better Call Saul will premiere on August 4th.