It seems like an age since we said an emotional farewell to Walter White – the iconic Breaking Bad character that brought Bryan Cranston millions of new fans worldwide. But, despite many opportunities in film having presented themselves – including Argo and Godzilla – along with a Tony-award winning turn on the Broadway stage, it seems the actor has not abandoned the small screen entirely. HBO has acquired the rights to develop the play All The Way for television, and Bryan Cranston is firmly on board.
The role in the play that brought Cranston his Tony award is that of US President Lyndon B Johnson, and the story centres on his initial, eventful year in office. In the wake of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the plot encompasses the escalation of the Vietnam War, the launch of the Civil Rights Bill, and the election that brought him Johnson his first full term as President.
In addition to Cranston reprising his role, he will also executive produce along with Robert Schenkkan, who wrote the play and is adapting it for HBO Films. Schenkkan has proven himself to be an immense talent, having won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama with his 1992 play The Kentucky Cycle, in addition to the raft of awards won by All The Way. His most recent project for television – the miniseries The Pacific – garnered 2 Emmy nominations and a WGA award. As if that combination weren’t formidable enough, the entire endeavour is being executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey (Extant, Under The Dome, The Americans).
All The Way – the Broadway version of which boasted Michael McKean in the role of J. Edgar Hoover – has no director attached, as yet, although once an adapted script is in place, that announcement would surely follow soon after. Whoever wins that job, fans of Bryan Cranston can rest assured that the actor is bound to feature in numerous Emmy categories for another year.