Review
Penn Badgley is best known for his roles in Gossip Girl and Netflix’s You, which makes me continuously surprised he almost played an iconic — and very different — character in Breaking Bad. Badgley broke out as Dan Humphrey in The CW’s teen drama, Gossip Girl, in 2007. After that, it’s no surprise that he was getting attention and auditions before Breaking Bad‘s debut in 2008. However, given how heavily associated with other roles Badgley has become, it’s difficult to imagine his career going any other way.
And after the massive success of the AMC series, it’s difficult to envision Breaking Bad‘s cast being any different from the one we got. Stars like Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul are now synonymous with the series, and even supporting actors like Giancarlo Esposito and Anna Gunn are associated with it over almost anything else. That makes it more jarring to learn about actors who were almost in Breaking Bad — not because they wouldn’t be good in their potential roles, but because the final cast rose to such fame. And Badgley is one such star.
Penn Badgley Almost Played Jesse Pinkman Before Breaking Bad Cast Aaron Paul
The Star Of Netflix's You Was The Second Choice For The Role
In a 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Badgley opened up about auditioning for Breaking Bad, revealing he nearly landed one of the biggest roles on the AMC show: Jesse Pinkman. Badgley called the project «the one that got away,» and he told the outlet that it ultimately came down to him and Aaron Paul. «One I got close on was Breaking Bad,” he explained. «It was between me and Aaron Paul, we tested.» Obviously, Paul went on to portray Walter White’s partner in crime, but it’s fascinating that Badgley could have instead.
Badgley’s two biggest roles — Dan from Gossip Girl and Joe Goldberg from You — are immensely different from Jesse’s character, so Breaking Bad would have shown viewers a new side of the actor. It also might have catapulted Badgley into a different career trajectory, one that might not even see him taking on his hit Netflix series. It would have altered the course of Paul’s acting career as well, a strange thought considering how famous he became after Breaking Bad.
It's Hard To Imagine Anyone Else Playing Jesse After Aaron Paul's Performance
Aaron Paul Captured Jesse's Complexity Brilliantly
Badgley’s acting chops suggest he could have nailed Jesse Pinkman’s character, even if it’s difficult to imagine in hindsight. However, Paul’s performance in Breaking Bad has become so iconic and heavily praised that it now feels like he was made for the role. Paul captured the complexity of Jesse Pinkman brilliantly. He delivered Jesse’s best lines — like «yeah, science!» and «yeah, b****» — with perfect comedic timing and charm. But he also packed a punch with Jesse’s emotional moments, driving home exactly why viewers should feel and root for his character.
It’s possible Badgley would have had a similar dynamic, but it’s almost impossible to imagine in hindsight.
That’s not to mention Paul’s fantastic chemistry with Bryan Cranston, which was an obvious highlight of Breaking Bad. It’s possible Badgley would have had a similar dynamic, but it’s almost impossible to imagine in hindsight. Paul’s performance was just too memorable.
Penn Badgley May Have Missed Out On Breaking Bad, But He Landed Another Iconic TV Role
It's Equally Impossible To Imagine Anyone Else Taking On Joe Goldberg
Breaking Bad wouldn’t be the same without Paul’s Jesse Pinkman, but it’s equally difficult to imagine anyone but Badgley taking on You‘s Joe Goldberg. Joe requires an incredible amount of range, as he’s a detestable character and an unreliable narrator. Any actor playing You‘s lead needs to make viewers understand him without making him too sympathetic. Badgley strikes this balance brilliantly, ensuring Joe is interesting enough that you want to him for five seasons of You. Yet he still manages to drive home how terrible his character really is.
What he accomplishes while playing Joe Goldberg suggests he could transform into a character like Jesse Pinkman as well. But if Badgley had gotten the Breaking Bad role, he might not have led the cast of You. In hindsight, it feels right that both he and Paul wound up getting roles they’re perfect for.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
