Bob Odenkirk, star of the hit series “Breaking Bad” and its spinoff “Better Call Saul,” recently took on a new role in the dramedy series “Lucky Hank.” Odenkirk plays the lead character, Hank Devereaux Jr., the chairman of the English department at Railton College in Pennsylvania.
In a recent interview with Collider, Odenkirk discussed what drew him to the role, how the series came together, and the challenges of creating a character that is both funny and serious.
Bob Odenkirk Talks about Lucky Hank and Saying Goodbye to Better Call Saul
Odenkirk said he was drawn to the character of Hank because he was funny, which was different from his character in “Better Call Saul.” He also liked that Hank was closer to his age and had a family he loved. Odenkirk enjoyed playing a character he could relate to and a world that felt refreshing after the loneliness of Jimmy McGill’s world.
When asked about the timing of taking on a new series after “Better Call Saul,” Odenkirk explained that he had read the script for “Lucky Hank” six months to a year before “Saul” ended and had already agreed to take on the new role.
However, he did not expect the series to happen so soon after “Saul” wrapped up. He acknowledged that “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul” raised the bar for TV series, but he enjoys taking risks and finding variety in his work.
Odenkirk also discussed the challenges of finding the right tone and balance for “Lucky Hank,” which can sometimes be both serious and funny. He said that the showrunners, who had previously worked on “The Office” and “Bloodline,” were able to bring their expertise to create a show that was both comedic and sad.
Regarding his departure from “Better Call Saul,” Odenkirk said that the most impactful thing was saying goodbye to the cast. He cherished the company and friendship with his co-stars, Rhea Seehorn, Patrick Fabian, Michael Mando, John Banks, and Giancarlo Esposito.
Odenkirk said leaving them behind was the most challenging part of moving on from the show. However, he was ready to move on from his character, Jimmy McGill, who he described as lonely and immature.
