VERSATILE: Dean Norris as “Big Jim” Rennie in “Under the Dome” (left) and (inset) as Hank Schrader on “Breaking Bad.” (
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So how cool is it to be Dean Norris right now?
Not only does Norris star on CBS’ summer hit “Under the Dome” but, next month, he resumes his pivotal role as DEA Agent Hank Schrader in the final eight episodes of AMC’s heart-stopping “Breaking Bad.”
Even better? Both shows will overlap, making Norris this summer’s most visible prime-time personality.
“I think it might be a first for anyone, actually,” Norris says about his dueling roles on two must-see shows — which might not have happened if “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan hadn’t wrapped Norris’ role on “BB” in time for him to start “Under the Dome.”
“Vince promised me he would get me out on time, and it was down to maybe two or three days that both shows would have overlapped,” says Norris. “It was down to the nitty-gritty.
“It was a weird transition,” he says of going from Hank Schrader to his “Under the Dome” character, loudmouth town elder/used car salesman James “Big Jim” Rennie.
“I literally got done with ‘Breaking Bad’ by midday and then flew to Wilmington, NC to start this show,” he says. “It actually worked out well, because I would have had a lot of time in my own head to think about the ending of ‘Breaking Bad.’ ”
“Under the Dome,” which premiered to 14 million viewers June 24, centers around a small, quiet town which is inexplicably and literally sliced in half by a huge, invisible, soundproof dome — cutting each half of the town off from the other.
Big Jim, the local, self-important big-mouth, takes charge of the situation, which involves his shady, ambiguous dealings with propane and other unanswered questions.
“This role could not be more different from Hank,” Norris says. “Big Jim has no morals and Hank has too many morals. ‘Breaking Bad’ is a small, intense cable drama and this is a big, epic sci-fi type of show.”
Norris says he didn’t read the Stephen King novel upon which “Dome” is based — “I bought it to read, but then made the decision not to consume myself,” he says — and, anyway, CBS made it clear it would tweak the book’s characters, including Big Jim.
“I think in the book he’s a much larger guy and they’re continuing to write it more toward my character,” he says.
“Big Jim realizes that, wow, all the constraints he may have had prior to the dome are gone — there’s only one cop left and he says, ‘This is it, this is my chance to shine,’ ” says Norris.
“For him, ‘shining’ can be a little evil as he realizes his dictatorial ambitions — and, since this is Stephen King, the whole premise is how easily and quickly life can turn to s–t if these kinds of constraints are taken away. This is just a delicious, fun role to play, man.”
Norris can say the same about his “Breaking Bad” alter ego Hank Schrader, who’s not only a DEA agent but the devoted brother-in-law of Walter White (Bryan Cranston) — the chemistry teacher-turned-meth king Hank was (unwittingly) chasing since the show’s first season until a revelation last season.
“For Hank this is the most important season. It’s a freight train,” he says of the final eight episodes, premiering Aug. 11.
“I really think these are the best eight episodes of the entire series, and that’s saying a lot. Everything that was being held back, well, there’s no more holding back,” he says.
It’s like putting gas on the flames, at this point.”