Breaking Bad's Jesse Pinkman Almost Played By You Star Penn…

As it turns out, Breaking Bad has a surprising connection to Netflix's hit series You. While actor Aaron Paul ultimately portrayed Jesse Pinkman for the series, You star Penn Badgley nearly had the role in the bag.

Breaking Bad is one of the most critically acclaimed shows of all time. Breaking Bad follows Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a high school chemistry teacher who's diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. Jesse Pinkman, a former student, becomes his partner in the meth business, where Walter hopes to make enough money to leave his family taken care of. You, meanwhile, stars Badgley as Joe Goldberg, a serial killer/stalker who's obsessed with finding 'love.'

To promote You season 4, Badgley was interviewed by BuzzFeed. During the interview, Badgley was asked about roles he nearly had a hand in, and he was candid about losing out on Breaking Bad. “One I got so close on was Breaking Bad. It was between me and Aaron Paul,” Badgley said. “We tested. And actually, that was the best television script I’d read, at that point. That was the one that got away.”

Ultimately, Badgley, rumored to be under consideration for Reed Richards, had to screen test for Breaking Bad and lost out on the role. On the upside for the actor, he was offered his role in Gossip Girl at the same time - which he was specifically sought out for - and he ended up starring in that show for six seasons between 2007 and 2012. Paul starred in Breaking Bad for five seasons between 2008 and 2013.

Ironically enough, Badgley's current show, You, recently lost out on casting an actress for a key role. Wednesday star Jenna Ortega was supposed to return in You season 4 but had to skip out on the season due to scheduling conflicts with the former series. Ortega had previously been in You during its second season, where she played Ellie Alves. The character would have made her return in season 4 had the timing allowed for it.

Losing out on roles is a common experience in Hollywood. Many actors are offered now-iconic roles only to lose out on them. Sometimes, it just might be for the best. Paul only recently finished playing Jesse Pinkman following a cameo in Better Call Saul (a prequel to Breaking Bad), and all these years later, his return still left fans clamoring for more.

You season 4 part 2 will be released on March 9, 2023, on Netflix.