Bryan Cranston says he’s not retiring but will ‘hit the pause’ in 2026

Bryan Cranston, the acclaimed actor from Breaking Bad, used Instagram to clarify his recent statements in a British GQ interview that suggested he planned to leave Hollywood permanently as part of his three-year exit strategy. 

Cranston stated that he will be closing down his production company, selling his share in Dos Hombres (the mezcal company he founded with Aaron Paul), and taking a trip abroad, but he has no intention of retiring from the entertainment industry.

“I am not retiring,” he clarified. “What I am going to do is hit the pause button for a year after I reach my 70th birthday in 2026. Holy crap - 70!”

The Your Honor actor explained his reasoning behind the decision, “First, it will allow me to spend time with Robin (my beautiful wife of 34 years now) in a way that I haven’t been able to in the last 25 years…not as a wife of a celebrity, but as a loving married couple.”

“Secondly, it gives me a sort of ‘reset’ in my career. I’ve had such an unbelievable ride for over two decades - with playing characters on TV, films, and on stage that I could only have dreamt about…until it actually happened.”

As part of his self-imposed break, the actor also plans on unplugging from social media, stepping away from business and perusing some classic novels he’s always wanted to read.

The actor emphasized he has several projects to look forward to before his 70th birthday, including the upcoming comedy Jackpot with Jennifer Garner and a possible return to Broadway.