AMC’s “Breaking Bad” actors Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul will be memorialized in bronze with statues donated to the city. The new home of these iconic characters will be inside the Albuquerque Convention center.
Just as the creators of the show took a chance on Albuquerque, it would become a character of its own in what would be become one of the most renowned TV shows of all time. The show would go on to fundamentally change the tourism and souvenir industries, accruing millions in revenue locally, as well as bringing national attention and a cult following to a long-overlooked town.
The series was nominated for 58 Emmy Awards, winning 16, from 2008-14. This summer, the duo has been promoting their tequila brand Dos Hombres in stores throughout the country.
Just like Philadelphia has a statue of Rocky, Albuquerque will now have its own anti-hero likenesses to celebrate. According to a Sony press release, the statues were originally commissioned from sculptor Trevor Grove in 2019 by series creator Vince Gilligan and donated by the series creator to the city.
Gilligan said, “Over the course of 15 years, two TV shows and one movie, Albuquerque has been wonderful to us. I wanted to return the favor and give something back.”
The statues will be unveiled July 29 with Cranston, Paul, Gilligan, Peter Gould (executive producer of “Breaking Bad” and its spinoff “Better Call Saul”), Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller and special guests presenting the ceremony.
Cranston and Paul will also make an appearance to raise money for New Mexico-based charities at the Albuquerque Isotopes game on July 30.
