In a move to reveal what is likely the first ever municipal statues honoring meth manufacturers, the city of Albuquerque is unveiling statues dedicated to Breaking Bad characters Walter White and Jesse Pinkman.
According to a press release, the statues were originally commissioned from sculptor Trevor Grove in 2019 by series creator Vince Gilligan, who is donating the statues to the city alongside Sony Pictures Television.
Best Reviewed TV Shows of 2022 37 Images
"Over the course of fifteen years, two TV shows and one movie, Albuquerque has been wonderful to us. I wanted to return the favor and give something back," Gilligan said. "These larger-than-life bronzes of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman exist thanks to the generosity of Sony Pictures Television and the artistry of sculptor Trevor Grove, and I love them. It makes me happy to picture them gracing The Duke City for decades to come, attracting busloads of tourists."
More than a decade after the release of the original show, Breaking Bad continues to drive tourism to Albuquerque, not the least because of the show's gorgeous cinematography portraying its stark desert vistas.
The statues will be displayed inside of the Albuquerque Convention Center after being revealed on July 29. The unveiling ceremony is set to include Mayor Keller, Gilligan, executive producer and Better Call Saul co-creator Peter Gould, Emmy Award-winning actors Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul, and special guests.
"We also appreciate that the statues will be indoors, and therefore protected from pigeons depositing their critiques on our heads," Cranston and Paul joked.
We gave Breaking Bad a 9.8, praising its "depth of character." Its prequel, Better Call Saul, is set to begin airing its final six episodes today, and its iconic meth makers (and statue subjects) Walter White and Jesse Pinkman are confirmed to return for the last few episodes.
Amelia Zollner is a freelance writer at IGN who loves all things indie and Nintendo. Outside of IGN, they've contributed to sites like Polygon and Rock Paper Shotgun. Find them on Twitter: @ameliazollner.
whatafuckinusername on July 12nd, 2022 at 05:14 UTC »
If Milwaukee can have a statue of The Fonz, Albuquerque can have statues of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman.
goffstock on July 12nd, 2022 at 03:25 UTC »
It's a shame they didn't put a Gus statue in front of Twisters.
mike_pants on July 12nd, 2022 at 03:12 UTC »
Hate to be the "to be fair..." guy, but, to be fair:
1 - The statues were paid for by Vince Gilligan, not the city of Albuquerque. He is donating them as a thank you for helping to make the franchise so popular. They deal with/welcome a LOT of unexpected Breaking Bad tourism.
2 - They are not going to be placed in a park or a major thoroughfare but inside their convention center. So it's not to honor meth-dealing murderers but specifically to be used as a tourist attraction.
3 - I had a 3 but now I forget what it was.