Copyright Screen Rant
Giancarlo Esposito's career has gone from strength to strength over the past decade or so, and while the legendary actor will always be best known for playing Gus Fring, he may have finally found his Breaking Bad replacement. Despite his acting resume dating back to the '70s, Esposito's most significant role was undoubtedly playing Breaking Bad's main antagonist. The crime drama is often cited as one of the best TV shows ever made, and it wouldn't be nearly as iconic without such a memorable villain. Esposito's Gus Fring was involved in many of Breaking Bad's best scenes, and his constantly imposing presence helped push the story forward and cement Walter White as an all-time great protagonist. While he returned to the franchise for Better Call Saul, Giancarlo Esposito has appeared in numerous hit movies and TV shows since, earning credits in major franchises like Marvel, DC, and Star Wars. All of these have offered him great parts that are certainly worth checking out, but his Guy Ritchie Netflix series feels like a truly worthy Breaking Bad successor. Giancarlo Esposito Provides One Of His Most Underrated Performances In 2024’s The Gentlemen After the success of Guy Ritchie's 2020 movie, he decided to create a TV series for The Gentlemen, focusing on a new set of characters. By far one of the most interesting figures in the series is Giancarlo Esposito's Stanley Johnston, a wealthy American businessman determined to purchase Eddie's marijuana business to expand his drug empire. His approach is far more formal and peaceful compared to Gus' in Breaking Bad, yet the two are eerily similar. Both have completely innocent public perceptions, despite being powerful drug kingpins, and they are also extremely cunning, manipulating their respective shows' protagonists on several occasions. While the Netflix series has plenty of action, Esposito's The Gentlemen villain is far less violent than Gus Fring. However, Stanley's calm demeanor makes him a standout in the 75% Rotten Tomatoes hit, and it always feels like he has a trick up his sleeve, despite ending season 1 in jail. The Gentlemen and Breaking Bad are undoubtedly very different in terms of tone, but their overall stories aren't worlds apart, nor are Esposito's characters. The actor is one of the most entertaining parts of both shows, and if The Gentlemen can continue its form, it could be the Breaking Bad alternative Esposito has been waiting for. Giancarlo Esposito Should Be Even More Prominent In The Gentlemen Season 2 Following his charismatic season 1 performance, Giancarlo Esposito's character should be even more involved in The Gentleman season 2. Despite being arrested, Stanley Johnston went to a familiar-looking jail, the very one that Bobby Glass runs, and the two finished the season enjoying a meal together, suggesting some form of partnership may have been struck between the powerful criminals. What this means for Eddie and Susie is still unknown, but that one scene confirms that Johnston's role is far from over, and he's bound to be a massive part of The Gentlemen season 2's story. The show will certainly benefit from having Stanley remain a prominent figure, and seeing how he coexists with Bobby is something I can't wait to watch. The Gentlemen season 2 has officially wrapped filming. It's still unclear how long The Gentlemen is expected to go on for, but while it's unlikely to outlast Breaking Bad, the series gives Esposito another captivating drug lord to play for at least another year. Hopefully, The Gentlemen sticks around for years to come, and if it does, Stanley Johnston could end up becoming one of Esposito's greatest characters yet.
