“We made the bad guys too sexy”: the creator of Breaking Bad calls for a change

“I would prefer to be celebrated for having created someone more inspiring (than Walter White),” said Vince Gilligan.

If he took care not to name Donald Trump and his allies, Vince Gilligan talked about politics well by receiving an honorary prize at the Writers Guild Awards this weekend. The creator of breaking Bad and Better Call Saul (with Peter Gould) turned all his speech of thanks aroundA call for change in Hollywoodasking the authors to pay more attention to the gentiles than to bad guys.

Starting by saying that he was well aware of being rewarded today for imagining “One of the biggest bad guys of all time” With Walter White, the protagonist of his series embodied brilliantly by Bryan Cranston, from 2008 to 2022, he then developed his idea.

“Basically, I think I would prefer to be celebrated for having created someone a little more inspiring … In 2025, it is time to say it aloud, because we live in a time when the bad guys, those of Real life is in full swing. to speak, precisely? Hollywood, so guess! “

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“In our deeply divided country, there is a funny irony, he continues. Everyone seems to agree on one thing: there are too many bad guys in real life. Simply, we live in different realities, so our name lists are not the same.

I have no solution that is found to this, but as an author taking the floor in a room filled with authors, I have a proposal; It will certainly not solve everything, but I think it’s a good start. I think we should write more good, benevolent characters. For decades, we have made the bad guys too sexy. “

Taking for examples Dark Vader and Hannibal Lecter, Gilligan also addressed spectators: “To you, all over the world, be careful. The public can say: ‘Do you see this villain? I want to be as cool as him. ‘ When this happens, these fictitious anti-heroes cease to be the counterexamples they were supposed to be. May God help us: they have become sources of inspiration! “

“Maybe what the world needs now are people from the old school, the most formidable generation, who give more than they take ?, He concludes, quoting the many acts of kindness that bloomed in Los Angeles following the destructive fires that touched the city this winter. Authors friends, think about it. Fictional wicked are fun and they are easier to write, but perhaps we may need a few George Bailey (heroes of Life is beautifulfrom Frank Capra, editor’s note) and Andy Taylor (flagship musician of Duran Duran) moreover ? I am convinced that these kinds of people have made our country a little better during other difficult periods in our history; If I had created them, I would be really proud. “

In 2023, Vince Gilligan had announced to have finished with the universe of breaking Bad. He has been preparing since A series for Apple TV With Rhea Seehorn, the interpreter of Kim Wexler in Better Call Saul.

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