Bryan Cranston Says He’ll Shut Down Production Company, Sell Half of Mezcal Brand by 2026: “I Want to Change the Paradigm”

Abbey White
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Bryan Cranston is looking at temporarily winding down his career in the next few years.

Speaking to British GQ magazine for its June cover story, the Breaking Bad and Asteroid City star laid out his plans for the next several years, which include shutting down his production company and selling his half of mezcal company Dos Hombres, which he co-founded with Breaking Bad co-star Aaron Paul.

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He also plans to move to another country, likely France, with wife Robin Dearden, for at least six months. “For the last 24 years, Robin has led her life holding on to my tail,” Cranston said. “She’s been the plus-one, she’s been the wife of a celebrity. She’s had to pivot and adjust her life based on mine. She has tremendous benefit from it, but we’re uneven. I want to level that out. She deserves it.”

Cranston, who will be 70 in 2026, said he wants to “change the paradigm once again,” learn the language of wherever they move and spend their days cooking and gardening.

“I want to have that experience,” he explains. “I want to go for day trips and have the fire in the fireplace and drink wine with new friends and not read scripts. It’s not going to be like, ‘Oh, I’ll read and see what I’m going to do.’ No, it’s a pause. It’s a stop. I won’t be thinking about [work]. I’m not going to be taking phone calls.”

He adds of temporarily stepping away from his career, “It’s about taking a chance. I’m used to that feeling — of not knowing.”

In a statement posted to his Instagram on Friday, Cranston clarifies that he’s not retiring, only hitting the pause button for a year after he turns 70. He explains he’s not entirely sure what pausing will look like for him other than taking some time off in order to spend time with his wife and sort of “reset” his career.

“I’ve had such an unbelievable ride for over two decades – with playing characters on TV, films, and on stage that I could only have dreamt about…until it actually happened,” he wrote in the caption. “I feel as though I’m beginning to run out of fresh ideas in how to play characters that I’m being offered. So exploring a more expanded life experience will give me the chance to replenish my soul and prepare for whatever roles I may be afforded in a more authentic way.”

He notes that he’ll be unplugging from social media, stepping away from his other businesses and diving into the classic novels he always told himself he would read but hasn’t. The Emmy winner continues, saying he has several projects coming out that he’s proud of and is considering a return to Broadway.

Elsewhere in the GQ profile, he also addresses why he’s doing a Malcolm in the Middle reunion.

“I’m curious about that family 20 years later,” Cranston said of Malcolm in the Middle. “What happened to them? Where are they? What are the kids doing? They’re grown men now.”

As for other reunions, the actor said there was talk of doing a Breaking Bad 15-year reunion, but he thought, “‘In a quick five years from now we’re going to do the 20 and then the 25, then the … ’ It’s like, let’s not try to do too much.”

Christy Piña contributed to this story.

June 10, 1 p.m. Updated with Bryan Cranston’s Instagram post clarifying he’s not retiring.

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