Better Call Saul: Bryan Cranston rules out Walter White return but will direct an episode

Cranston previously directing Breaking Bad episodes including 'Blood Money'

Cranston can't see a "rebirth" for Walt (Reuters)

Bryan Cranston joins Better Call Saul – it's the sentence fans had desired/dreaded in equal measure, but the Breaking Bad multi-Emmy winner won't be heading back to Albuquerque to reprise his role of Walter White as expected/feared, but to direct an episode.

Cranston addressed the "brushfire" he started when he told CNN "never say never" as to a return for Walt, confessing that he can't see how everyone's favourite homicidal meth cook could feature in the spin-off series.

Read more: Better Call Saul: Everything we know so far

"I think it was on the Ashley Banfield show on CNN, and she brought up the speculation," he said in an interview with the Daily Beast. "I was just toying with her and said, “I don’t know!” which created a whole brushfire of rumor.

"I don’t think that we’re going to see any kind of rebirth of that show, or that character."

Walter White wasn't introduced to Saul until season 2 (Picture: Netflix) (Netflix)

Cranston echoed the sentiments of Better Call Saul's creators, who previously said they want the show to have its own identity and to not just trade off Breaking Bad/the legend of Walter White.

"I don’t know in what context it would work in, because we’re in different phases," he explained. "The characters didn’t meet until the second season of Breaking Bad, when Walter needed to meet him. I suppose they could have a serendipitous brush of each other down the street or in the market, but I don’t know what good that’ll do—it’s just a little cookie."

He did confirm that he will direct an episode however (having previously got behind the camera on Breaking Bad), adding: "I’m looking forward to going down there next year and directing an episode, though. It’s family. They’ve got the same crew, and it’s exciting to think that we can rekindle that flame; that it’s still alive."