Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul was renewed for season four by AMC shortly after its surprising season three finale.
The finale saw the feud between Jimmy (Bob Odenkirk)and his brother Chuck (Michael McKean) reach its end when Chuck kicked over one of his lanterns in his home, leading to a fire that killed him.
That death will have repercussions in season four, but what else can we expect as Jimmy continues his descent into Saul Goodman?
Better Call Saul season 4 date: When can we expect it?
AMC has confirmed that season four will premiere on August 6 in the US after a slightly longer wait than usual.
In the UK, Netflix will continue to air new episodes the day after their US outing, so season four will start on August 7.
10 years since Breaking Bad started (yes, you're old), it's time to take a trip back to the ABQ. Better Call Saul Season 4. Weekly episodes from 7 August. pic.twitter.com/pA3ldcAilP
— Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) June 8, 2018
Better Call Saul season 4 trailer: What’s in it?
Netflix released the first trailer for season four on July 2 which sees Jimmy barred from practising law, Mike having trouble with an unseen foe and Gus Fring getting stuck into a local crime war which we doubt will end well for his enemies.
During Comic-Con, a second trailer was unveiled that definitely gives a sense of Jimmy becoming the Saul Goodman we know and love, too.
Better Call Saul season 4 cast: Who’s coming back?
Bob Odenkirk will of course be back as Jimmy McGill, AKA Saul Goodman, along with Rhea Seehorn and Jonathan Banks as Kim Wexler and Mike Ehrmantraut, respectively.
Season four will also see Patrick Fabian return as Jimmy’s rival Howard Hamlin, Giancarlo Esposito as Breaking Bad‘s iconic villain Gus Fring and Michael Mando as Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Varga, as well as Daniel and Luis Moncada as the terrifying cousins Leonel and Marco Salamanca.
We’re also not ruling out appearances from other Breaking Bad characters that have appeared in the prequel so far, such as Mark Margolis as Hector Salamanca, Laura Fraser as Lydia Rodarte-Quayle and Lavell Crawford as Huell Babineaux.
Creator Vince Gilligan has also hinted that we could see Aaron Paul back as Jesse Pinkman in Better Call Saul‘s present day scenes, showing where he went after escaping a Nazi compound in the Breaking Bad series finale. “You never know if that character may get revisited in the future. Anything’s possible,” Gilligan teased.
Gilligan has also confirmed that we’ll be seeing someone referred to in Breaking Bad during Saul’s very first scene called Lalo who he said is a “very important character” that is going to impress us.
“[Other than Lalo], we have a couple of new characters that we’ll be reintroducing to the world. We probably don’t want to say who yet, just to preserve the fun of that for the fans,” added executive producer Melissa Bernstein.
As part of the 10th anniversary reunion of Breaking Bad, Gilligan revealed that he is desperately trying to get cameos from Jesse and Bryan Cranston’s Walter White on Better Call Saul.
“It wouldn’t feel as satisfying if it was just a cameo or an Alfred Hitchcock walkthrough,” he elaborated. “I think we’ve waited long enough. We damn well better have a good reason for them to show up. I just hope we figure it out because I’ve got to hear, ‘Yeah, bitch!’ one more time.”
But he revealed during Comic-Con that we won’t be seeing either of them in season four, although he did add: “We would be sorely remiss if these characters didn’t appear on the show before it ended.”
And even though Chuck died in the season three finale, Michael McKean could also make an appearance in season four, potentially in flashbacks.
Better Call Saul season 4 spoilers: What’s it about?
Helpfully, AMC released an official synopsis for season four when it confirmed the release date, so here it is in full:
“In Better Call Saul‘s fourth season, Chuck’s death catalyses Jimmy McGill’s transformation into Saul Goodman. In the wake of his loss, Jimmy takes steps into the criminal world that will put his future as a lawyer – and his relationship with Kim – in jeopardy.
“Chuck’s death deeply affects former colleagues Howard and Kim as well, putting the two of them once again on opposite sides of a battle sparked by the Brothers McGill. Meanwhile, Mike Ehrmantraut takes a more active role as Madrigal Electromotive’s newest (and most thorough) security consultant.
“It’s a volatile time to be in Gus Fring’s employ, as Hector’s collapse sends shock waves throughout the Albuquerque underworld and throws the cartel into chaos – tearing apart both Gus and Nacho’s well-laid plans. While Gus changes course, Nacho finds himself in the crosshairs of deadly forces.”
At the ATX Television Festival, Odenkirk revealed that one of the main focuses will be on the relationship between Jimmy and Kim.
“There are scenes between Jimmy and Kim that are on another level that you haven’t seen on this show. They’re outside of character that a real couple needs to have… and it makes his life in Breaking Bad all the more tragic because she’s not in his life,” he outlined.
And while we might not officially see Jimmy become Saul Goodman in season four, things are certainly going to get darker for the lawyer.
“My problem this year is I found a desire to change this journey a little. It’s sad to me,” Odenkirk revealed. “I’m starting to feel bad he’s going to be this guy who has abandoned any idealism he had, and the hope of being a good person, which he has had. And he’s just starting to go, ‘F**k that shit. No-one is going to give me a chance? I’m just going to throw bombs around.’ That makes me sad.”
Gilligan has revealed though that there’s no current timeline in place for when the show will catch up to Walt, Jesse and co. “[We take things] very much season by season. And I’m less involved than I used to be,” he explained. “We really don’t know where it’s all going.”
However, season four will feature some scenes set during Breaking Bad with a subplot that “brings us into the world – or at least points us on a path toward the world of Walter White”.
But at least there is potentially some light in store for the post-Breaking Bad version of Jimmy as Cinnabon manager Gene. “There is the possibility for redemption with Gene,” Gilligan added. “The whole thing could end sadly instead of happily. But to me, that’s one of the more potentially hopeful things.”
Although, sadly, we already know that things won’t end well for Jimmy and Kim given that she’s not seen at all in Breaking Bad, so maybe season four will start to give us hints as to why that is.
What we do know though is that the end of season four will see the show be closer than ever to its parent show. “It’s so close that you can see it’s right there at the end of the season essentially, but it takes up more time,” Odenkirk teased.
