For fans of AMC's legendary crime saga Breaking Bad, the story isn't over yet. While creator Vince Gilligan is busy with the upcoming second season of his Apple TV+ sci-fi hit Pluribus, a key cast member is taking fans back to the desert with a new project that promises to reveal the untold stories behind the iconic series.
Dean Norris, best known for his role as DEA agent Hank Schrader, has announced he's writing an oral history book about the show. Titled Do What You're Gonna Do: The Definitive Oral History of Breaking Bad, the book takes its name from one of Schrader's final lines before his tragic death in the episode "Ozymandias." Norris shared the cover on social media, teasing that the book is packed with "never-before-heard stories and exclusive interviews with the incredible people who brought the show to life." He promises fans will love it.
Norris is co-writing the book with Joe Layden, a veteran collaborator who has worked on memoirs with Sean Astin and Cary Elwes (the latter's As You Wish about The Princess Bride). The book is set to hit shelves on November 3, 2027, just in time for the holiday season.
Who Was Hank Schrader?
For those who need a refresher, Hank Schrader was a special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Married to Marie (Betsy Brandt), he was brother-in-law to Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a frustrated high school science teacher turned meth kingpin. Hank spent the series hunting the elusive Heisenberg, unaware that his quarry was his own family member. His journey included a near-fatal encounter with cartel assassins, a painful recovery, and ultimately a devastating confrontation that ended his life in one of TV's most acclaimed episodes.
Norris later reprised his role in two episodes of the prequel series Better Call Saul. Before Breaking Bad, he was a familiar face in films like Lethal Weapon 2, Total Recall, and Terminator 2: Judgment Day, often playing cops or military men. More recently, he starred on Law & Order: Organized Crime as Randall Stabler, brother of Elliot Stabler.
This oral history joins a growing library of behind-the-scenes looks at beloved shows, much like the recent deep dives into other iconic series. For fans who can't get enough of the Breaking Bad universe, this book is a must-read. Stay tuned for more updates as the release date approaches.
