Aaron Paul's Role in The X-Files Helped Him Land Iconic Breaking Bad Part
The fans were about to be robbed of Aaron Paul's perfect portrayal of Jesse Pinkman, but his previous role on The X-Files saved the day.
The nine classic seasons of The X-Files consist of 202 episodes. That is a titanic amount of work that involved a lot of people.
It is not surprising that for some of them the show became a springboard that propelled them high enough — closer to the sun. One of the brightest and most significant examples of such a "leap" is Aaron Paul.
The producer of the cult X-Files, Vince Gilligan, embarked on a solo journey after the end of the show.
Vince's next projects Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul thundered around the world, but he has not forgotten the beginning of his career.
Gilligan often talks about how his involvement with The X-Files was beneficial to his later career and how much he learned from watching the work of Chris Carter, the project's creator.
In particular, he learned to keep "his people" by his side. That is why the most attentive and observant viewers now and then notice in Vince's new projects his old friends, "picked up" back in the days of The X-Files.
22-year-old Aaron Paul appeared on The X-Files in 2001, in the ninth season, episode Lord of the Flies. He played David Winkle, a man with the ability to levitate due to his genetic relationship with flies.
This seemingly insignificant role will be crucial for the actor in the future.
Seven years after his appearance on The X-Files, Aaron Paul decided to audition for the role of Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad, a drug addict living with his cancer-stricken aunt.
After seeing the actor at the audition, Vince and the casting director agreed that he was perfect for the role.
However, Sony studio disagreed, doubting that the actor with such an attractive appearance could successfully portray a drug addict.
Although Gilligan has stated that he will not direct the show until the studio casts Aaron Paul, true to his motto of not letting his people down.
Fortunately, the tactic worked, and viewers got one of television's most distinctive dramatic heroes in recent memory.
Vince Gilligan's instincts were right — Aaron's Jesse became one of the most popular characters in Breaking Bad and received recognition from both fans and critics.
Breaking Bad ran from 2008 to 2013, telling the story of a dying chemistry teacher turned meth cook.