Saul Goodman. Breaking Bad spinoff. It’s happening, folks – for better or worse. With the hit AMC show coming to a close soon, many have been speculating on possible ways for the network to cash in on Breaking Bad’s popularity, with a Saul Goodman spinoff topping the list of possibilities. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the networkhas inked a deal with Sony Pictures Television to produce the next (or rather, previous) part of the Breaking Bad story.

Bob Odenkirk, Breaking Bad Premiere
Bob Odenkirk looks to be returning as Saul Goodman.

"As conceived, the new series is based on the show's popular Saul Goodman character with the working title Better Call Saul," the studio and network confirmed in a joint statement to THR, adding: "plans call for Saul to be a one-hour prequel that will focus on the evolution of the popular Saul Goodman character before he ever became Walter White's lawyer."

While Vince Gilligan will not be taking on showrunner duties for the project, there will be some continuity from Breaking Bad. Peter Gould, one of the writers of BB, who created the Saul Goodman character in season two, has been assigned as showrunner for this project. While it hasn’t been confirmed yet by Bob Odenkirk’s rep, the actor is expected to star in the spinoff. According to the announcement, Gilligan will also be involved in some way, although no specific details have been announced. There will be no formal series or pilot order until all deals with Gould, Odenkirk and Gilligan have been finalized.

Bob Odenkirk, Avalon Theater
The new show is being billed as a sort of origin story of Saul Goodman.

As it turns out, AMC’s agreement to produce the series beat out interest from several other companies, including Netflix, which has steadily been moving into original programming in the past year. While fans are a little on edge about the Breaking Bad spinoff, the announcement couldn’t have come at a better time for the network, which is currently struggling to launch another drama, entitled Low Winter Sun, which is losing more than 50 percent of its Breaking Bad viewership. And with The Killing and Mad Men both retiring after the current run, Better Call Saul sounds like a welcome addition to the roster.

Vince Gilligan, Film Society of Lincoln Cente
Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan will be involved, although to what extent is unclear.