'Better Call Saul' season 3 news, spoilers: Series to be more than just a 'Breaking Bad' prequel

During the recent Writers Guild Foundation event at the Beverly Hills WGA Theater, the writers for the television crime drama series "Better Call Saul" spoke about how they labored so people could now tell the difference between the prequel and the mother show, "Breaking Bad."

The original series had been an enthralling story about how a chemist, Walter White, turned into the most notorious meth-dealer and criminal in Albuquerque. "Better Call Saul," however, has progressed into something that is more than just a prequel on how its lead character, Jimmy McGill, a lawyer, transforms into small-time hustler Saul Goodman.

Peter Gould, the executive producer as well as co-creator of the series, shared that the show has since evolved into something else from the originally envisioned "M-A-S-H-like" comedy.

On the other hand, co-executive producer Gennifer Hutchison pointed out that the tone of the show derives a lot from the character of Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk). She shared, "We started breaking it like a 'Breaking Bad' episode, but then we found that 'Better Call Saul' goes faster than 'Breaking Bad.' I think what we discovered a lot with Jimmy and how Bob plays Jimmy."

The producers also tried to employ different technical approaches on the show, shooting in another style to avoid those which were identified with "Breaking Bad."

Tom Schnauz, the show's executive producer and director, also said, "They had a lot of handheld so we encouraged our directors to stay away from that and do more locked off, off-center shots, more unique framing. We also talked about never doing shots from inside of things because that was so 'Breaking Bad,' but that went right out the window."

The two shows are also set in two different time periods, almost a different universe. But both series have the main similarity of taking place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and they share the same think tanks, Vince Gilligan and Gould.

Yet, the efforts of the creative team have pulled it off grandly because both series can stand alone.

This being said, it is safe to say that "Better Call Saul" can depart from the "Breaking Bad" storyline which originally started it on its way, without hurting both stories. This fits in very well with what seems to be the implied intention in Gould's statement at the "Breaking Better Call Saul" panel during the Vulture Festival.

"I don't think anything is predetermined. Even with 'Breaking Bad' we had a story that was set up from the beginning: Mr. Chips turns into Scarface. This show we have Jimmy McGill becomes Saul Goodman, which in some ways seems not as extreme of a journey, a different kind of journey," he said.

This could mean that the upcoming season 3 will find "Better Call Saul" forging its own path. This ties up well enough with reports that the next run will present a mix of past and future events. Gilligan and Gould had been rumored as looking into stories of Jimmy's life after his stretch as Saul Goodman.

An exciting twist also comes up with this exploration. Walter White/Heisenberg is believed to be alive and Saul will be the one defending him at his trial. Other rumors hint that Gus Fring will finally make his appearance.

"Better Call Saul" season 3 will be released in February 2017, with AMC announcing the definite date as the premiere nears.