Breaking Bad Magic: How Wednesday'S Hunter Doohan Survived The Wild Ride To Indie Glory

The Breaking Bad Connection

Hunter Doohan, the breakout star from Netflix's Wednesday, got a surprising text in early 2023 that kicked off an unexpected adventure. It came from Bryan Cranston, who'd worked with Doohan on Apple TV+'s Your Honor, playing his on-screen dad. Cranston wanted to pass along Doohan's contact to his Breaking Bad co-star Aaron Paul, and as a huge fan of the series, Doohan jumped at the chance – it was like winning the celebrity lottery.

This connection went deeper than just a phone number swap; Doohan had already portrayed a younger version of Paul's character in Apple's Truth Be Told. Paul was producing a low-key indie flick called The Wilderness and thought Doohan was perfect for the lead. The story unfolds at a Utah-based retreat for teens battling addiction, run by a mysterious director with possible sinister motives, drawing inspiration from the film's writer-director Spencer King's real-life experiences.

Filming in the Wild

Doohan and King clicked right away, with Doohan signing on not just as the star but also as a producer. They dove into shooting in Utah's rugged terrain, turning the set into a makeshift summer camp where the cast and crew bunked in cabins for a true immersive vibe. Their first day hit a snag with a massive monsoon that halted everything, but it set the tone for the 20-day shoot there, plus five more days in California.

King shared how the team rolled with the punches, zipping around in a dune buggy through the mud while blasting tunes – it was chaotic yet fun.

“I expected everyone to bail after that wild first night, but they stuck it out and made it an adventure,"

King later recalled, highlighting the bond that kept things going despite the challenges.

The Road to Release

Once filming wrapped, the real battle began for Doohan and King – navigating the tough world of indie distribution. They poured their hearts into the project, hoping for festival spots like Sundance, given its Utah roots and the film's meaningful theme, but doors kept slamming shut. King was stunned when they got rejected without anyone even watching the screener, calling it a harsh wake-up to the industry.

Doohan felt the sting too, especially from one unnamed festival that didn't bother to hit play. Fast-forward two years, and The Wilderness finally found a home with Dark Star Pictures. It scored a modest theater run with glowing reviews and then hit PVOD, feeling more like a mini-festival tour with Q&A sessions in various cities. King described it as a blessing in disguise, even if the process was brutally competitive.

What's Next for Doohan

Despite the hurdles, King has already moved on, wrapping his next film Nickels with stars like Rob Riggle, Odessa A'zion, and Aaron Holliday from The Wilderness. For Doohan, the momentum keeps building after his Wednesday success as Tyler Galpin, the charming love interest to Jenna Ortega's Wednesday Addams. He's lined up a major role in the Sam Raimi-produced thriller Evil Dead Burn, hitting theaters on July 24.

King got a front-row seat to Doohan's rising fame during The Wilderness promotions, with crowds lining up for selfies. Looking back at how Paul and Cranston's link-up led to this project, Doohan joked about it feeling like he hit the jackpot in some Breaking Bad fan contest – a true Hollywood tale of connections and grit.