The trailer of Rajinikanth's upcoming film Jailer released as 'Jailer Showcase' last evening [video here] and even before it was out, fans had predicted director Nelson's Breaking Bad influences to continue with his new outing. A popular American drama series, Breaking Bad ran between 2008 - 2013 and remains the gold standard of TV writing in terms of its themes, characters, and the story-plots. Nelson who is from a television background himself [He even acknowledged this recently at the Jailer audio launch event], has also confirmed at several instances how much of a fan he is of the show.
I have a big feeling that jailer @rajinikanth character is gona be something like "Walter white" from Breaking Bad. Let's see...
— KI RU MI (@hail_kirumi) July 31, 2023
#BreakingBad references in "True" Nelson films#KoKo- Drug smuggling sequences (Jesse and co distribution reference) #Doctor - French beard twins (Marco and Leo) and Vinay - father - Spanish convo (Don Eladio / Hector reference)
— SFC么ÉAGLÉᴶᴬᴵᴸᴱᴿ (@EuphoricEagle19) August 2, 2023
Waiting for Heisenberg reference in #Jailer 🔥 pic.twitter.com/7YjUfNnIPL
BB veriyan Nelson dhan indha kadhaiya first eludhirupan https://t.co/2aoftsoo3F
— Gilfoyle (@Niteesh_4) July 27, 2023
While fans of the filmmaker and actor Rajinikanth had wanted 'Tiger Muthuvel Pandian' to be based off Breaking Bad's lead character Walter White/Heisenberg, Rajini's new role seems to be giving off Mike Ehrmantraut vibes, who first appeared on Breaking Bad but was popularized by the show's spin-off series Better Call Saul (2015 - 2022). The troupes that have likened Mike to Muthuvel Pandian are being a retired cop, having a cop son, having an unexpected past, going after the son's murderers and taking care of son's wife and child at close quarters. Mike was however a corrupt cop taking bribes in this past and later became a 'fixer' aka career criminal, unlike Rajini's character in Jailer.
You heard it first here. Rajini's character in #Jailer is very likely the inspiration of Mike Ehrmantraut, from Breaking bad. Both retired law enforcement, came back into action after their son's death because they were very honest cop. pic.twitter.com/J3TvEW1Ucc
— Arun S R (@arunsr1996) August 2, 2023
Fans haven't let Walter White/Heisenberg out of the equation though and the Jailer-Breaking Bad, and 'Tiger Heisenberg Pandian' edits are currently taking over X (formerly Twitter).
Rajnikanth from #Jailer reminds me of Walter White turned Heisenberg from Breaking Bad. pic.twitter.com/iJUjSTmCXK
— Social Experiment (@GoneWorse) August 2, 2023
Tiger Heisenberg Pandian pic.twitter.com/ctEUnZIfLY
— వేటగాడు (@rao_4005) August 2, 2023
Considering how much Nelson is a fan of Breaking Bad, I wouldn’t be surprised if this a major inspiration for Jailer with Rajni. In the trailer, there’s a mention of him suffering from an illness as well. #Jailer https://t.co/7CtzxN14zB
— Ash (@AshwathRavisan1) August 3, 2023
Don't mess with Heisenberg ❗🔥 pic.twitter.com/UfuV2HS7qV
— Mr.வாலிபன்™ (@Vaalibanoff) August 3, 2023
What a sync !!! Stupendous tribute to the best series that ever existed on planet earth . #BreakingBad #Jailer
— Harsha (@nani4friendz) August 3, 2023
👌👌👌👌 https://t.co/nww0qRRyI0
#Nelson and his fetish for Breaking Bad is well known 😅
— Raaja (@raajaboss) August 2, 2023
Right from Kolamavu Kokila to Doctor to #Jailer#BreakingBad is my all tym fav series 😍
And #Thalaivar style swag and transformation looks terrific
Still there will be many surprisess loaded for sure 🤞
A retired Jailer doing a major heist to save his family.
— Bala Mariappan (@chittizen) August 2, 2023
Jailer - A breaking Bad Sambavam 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/NUD1V7Mw7b
Looks like Jailer is going for breaking bad and Nobody kinda vibe. But those stories worked because they cast predominantly comidic actors who have never done action before as badasses. Here we have freakin Rajinikanth.
— Vivek (@DorkChocoMocha) August 2, 2023
If you have religiously watched Breaking Bad, #Jailer trailer cuts wouldnt surprise you.
— Ahmed (@musuppu_king) August 2, 2023
#Jailer looks like a Nelson film with that quirky comedy and he has got his dop back so more head space and lots of references from Breaking bad,better call Saul,let's see if he got his stuff back🤞
— Aaadhvn (@aaadhvn) August 2, 2023
Jailer releases in theaters on August 10, 2023. Produced by Sun Pictures, the U/A censored movie comes with a runtime of 168. 59 minutes i.e. 2 hours 48 minutes 59 seconds, and has Anirudh for music.