The skeezy, smarmy, yet somehow still charming lawyer Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) was so compelling on AMC’s hit drama “Breaking Bad” that he inspired his own spinoff, “Better Call Saul.” Spinoffs provide a deeper exploration of fan-favorite characters and their narrative worlds—but while some are great successes like “Better Call Saul” (if 53 Emmy nominations are any indication!), many can fall flat. Let’s dive into the world of spinoffs and whether they’re a good opportunity for actors.
A spinoff is a narrative extension of an existing movie, television show, or even a book, taking a character, storyline, or theme from the original work and developing it into a new production. Spinoffs can be movies, series, and animated adaptations that explore untold aspects of a beloved universe.
Why are spinoffs made?
To provide fan service: They capitalize on the established fan base of the original work, leveraging a ready-made audience eager for more content from a familiar universe. Spinoffs can also serve to revitalize interest in the original work.
They’re a safe bet: Spinoffs can be a strategic move by studios to mitigate the financial risks associated with launching entirely new concepts.
For creative exploration: Spinoffs also allow creators to explore narratives and characters that may not fit within the original production’s constraints. Storytellers naturally pull threads within the stories and worlds they create; sometimes, a thread can lead to a very intriguing idea.
Spinoffs can be a double-edged sword, so actors should consider the following variables before deciding to sign on with one.
Spinoffs allow deep character work. On one hand, spinoffs provide actors the chance to further develop a character over an extended period. Creatively, this continuity can be an opportunity to create a more nuanced performance that will deepen the character’s connection with the audience; just consider how much viewers loved learning more about Frasier Crane and his delightfully snobby world with the sitcom “Frasier,” a spinoff of the popular “Cheers.”
They can open doors to bigger roles. Perhaps most importantly, spinoffs underscore the sentiment that there are no small parts. Supporting characters that are memorable and impactful in an original project can go on to find their spotlight in a spinoff, allowing opportunities for actors looking to break through into lead roles.
But they’re sometimes seen as lesser-than. Adaptations have also been known to fall short of the original works they stem from (the 2023 “Frasier” revival, we’re looking at you).
Actors in spinoffs risk being typecast. While a successful spinoff can be a huge opportunity for an actor’s career, it may also limit their perceived range if audiences become too accustomed to seeing them in a specific role.
Spinoff shows
Spinoffs often make for successful television; for instance, the ’70s sitcom “All in the Family” inspired five direct spinoffs, including “The Jeffersons” and “Good Times.” Nickelodeon’s “All That” is responsible for six offshoots, including “The Amanda Show” and “Keenan & Kel.” And Dick Wolf created an entire “Law & Order” universe, with seven (and counting!) takes on the original concept and characters, including “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.” Here are some of the most popular spinoff series.
1. “Frasier” (1993–2004), from “Cheers” (1982–1993)
“Frasier” took supporting character Frasier Crane from NBC’s “Cheers” and moved him from Boston to Seattle. The spinoff ditched the original show’s bar setting for a fancy apartment and a radio station; swapped out barflies for Frasier’s equally pretentious brother, Dr. Niles Crane (David Hyde Pierce), and their down-to-earth father, Martin (John Mahoney); and served up a cocktail of highbrow humor and slapstick comedy that left us all saying, “I’m listening.”
2. “Better Call Saul” (2015–2022), from “Breaking Bad” (2008–2013)
As a prequel to its source show, “Better Call Saul” shows how down-on-his-luck attorney Jimmy McGill transforms from a small-time con artist into Saul Goodman, the go-to lawyer for Albuquerque, New Mexico’s criminal underworld. The spinoff not only complemented “Breaking Bad,” but also garnered critical acclaim as a standalone series.
3. “Young Sheldon” (2017–2024), from “The Big Bang Theory” (2007-2019)
CBS’ “Young Sheldon” explores the childhood of adorkable genius Sheldon Cooper from “The Big Bang Theory,” proving that even Nobel Prize–winning physicists had to start somewhere (in this case, East Texas, where being bigger-brained doesn’t necessarily mean fitting into the “everything’s bigger” Texan mentality). By focusing on Sheldon’s formative years, the series manages to both expand on his “Big Bang Theory” character’s backstory and stand on its own as a charming family comedy. The single-cam series even inspired its own direct spinoff, the upcoming “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage,” which will return to the multicam filming used in “The Big Bang Theory.”
Other renowned TV spinoffs include:
- “Family Matters” (1989–1998), from “Perfect Strangers” (1986–1993)
- “Daria” (1997–2002), from “Beavis and Butt-Head” (1993–1997, 2011, 2022–present)
- “Angel” (1999–2004), from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997–2003)
- “NCIS” (2003–present), from “JAG” (1995–2005); “NCIS” has also had its own spinoffs, including “NCIS: Los Angeles” (2009–2023), “NCIS: New Orleans” (2014–2021), “NCIS: HawaiÊ»i” (2021–2024), and “NCIS: Sydney” (2023–present)
- “The Colbert Report” (2005–2014), from “The Daily Show” (1996–present)
- “Torchwood” (2006–2011), from “Doctor Who” (1963–1989, 2005–2002, 2023–present)
- “The Flash” (2014–2023), from “Arrow” (2012–2020)
- “Fear the Walking Dead” (2015–2023), “The Walking Dead: World Beyond” (2020–2021), “Tales of the Walking Dead” (2022), “The Walking Dead: Dead City” (2023–present), “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon” (2023–present), and “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live” (2024), from “The Walking Dead” (2010–2022)
- “Grown-ish” (2018–2024) and “Mixed-ish” (2019–2021), from “Black-ish” (2014–2022)
Film spinoffs
Similarly, movie spinoffs like the following abound.
“Puss in Boots” (2011, dir. Chris Miller), from the “Shrek” franchise (2001–present)
Centered on the charming and swashbuckling feline character from the “Shrek” franchise, this spinoff depicts Puss in Boots’ (Antonio Banderas) origins, trading ogre swamps with a fantastical realm of nursery rhyme noir. Its blend of fairy-tale adventure and Western cowboy flair makes it a purr-fectly entertaining spectacle; the movie and its sequel, “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” (2022, dir. Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado), even garnered Oscar nominations for best animated feature.
“Creed” (2015, dir. Ryan Coogler), from the “Rocky” franchise (1976–2006)
“Creed” extends the iconic “Rocky” movies by focusing on Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan), the son of Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), Rocky Balboa’s (Sylvester Stallone) legendary rival and later friend. The story is familiar enough to land nostalgic punches but nimble enough to dodge the “nothing new under the sun” knockout, proving that with the right combination of heart, grit, and a killer training montage, even a spinoff can come out a champion. And the story has continued: “Creed IV,” to be directed by Jordan, is currently in preproduction.
These additional films are just a drop in the spinoff bucket:
- “The Scorpion King” (2002, dir. Chuck Russell), from “The Mummy Returns” (2001, dir. Stephen Sommers)
- “The Bourne Legacy” (2012, dir. Tony Gilroy), from the “Bourne” trilogy (2002–2007)
- “Minions” (2015, dir. Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda), from “Despicable Me” (2010, dir. Coffin and Chris Renaud)
- “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (2016, dir. Gareth Edwards), from the “Star Wars” saga (1977–present)
- “Hobbs & Shaw” (2019, dir. David Leitch), from the “Fast & Furious” franchise (2001–present)
- “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” (2016, dir. David Yates), from the “Harry Potter” series (2001–2011)
- “Birds of Prey” (2020, dir. Cathy Yan), from “Suicide Squad” (2016, dir. David Ayer)
- “Penguins of Madagascar” (2014, dir. Eric Darnell and Simon J. Smith), from the “Madagascar” series (2005–2012)