Unfortunately, as “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan revealed, despite allegedly liking the series, for one reason or another, Phillip Seymour Hoffman wasn’t interested in joining the crime drama’s cast. “That’s right, we’d heard he liked the show,” Gilligan said. “Little did we realize that does not equate in any way, shape, or form to wanting to be on the show.”
A brilliant character actor, Hoffman was well-known for playing likable geeks and socially awkward outcasts. Since Gale fits both of these categories on “Breaking Bad,” it definitely makes sense that the character was written with the late actor in mind. In the end, David Costabile went on to nab the role instead of Hoffman and made Gale a memorable supporting character in Season 3. All the same, it’s hard not to wonder about how great Phillip Seymour Hoffman would have been in the role. The Oscar-winner was a force to be reckoned with, and would have almost certainly brought his own unique spin to the character.