Bryan Cranston is moving to France and retiring to spend time with his wife

Bryan Cranston has announced that he plans on stepping back from acting.

The 67-year-old has enjoyed incredible success over the couple of decades or so, first as the patriarch in Malcolm in The Middle and then as 'the one who knocks' in Breaking Bad.

And since the hit AMC series ended, his career has gone from strength to strength, with roles in Godzilla, The Infiltrator, Your Honor and Asteroid City.

Put simply, he's been smashing it.

But speaking to GQ, the 67-year-old has now opened up about life as a celebrity and what the future holds for him.

Cranston told the outlet that he needs to take some time out and spend it with his wife, Robin, who he says has been carrying the bag for him as he pursues his dreams.

AMC

So in 2026, when he's 70, Cranston's going to put his career on hold for a little while, shut his production company down, sell off his half of Dos Hombres, and split.

“I want to change the paradigm once again,” he said. “For the last 24 years, Robin has led her life holding onto my tail.

"She’s been the plus one, she’s been the wife of a celebrity. She’s had to pivot and adjust her life based on mine.

"She has tremendous benefit from it, but we’re uneven. I want to level that out. She deserves it.”

The pair plan on moving to a small village somewhere, France being the likely destination, for at least six months.

Cranston went on: “I want to have that experience. I want to go for day trips and have the fire in the fireplace and drink wine with new friends and not read scripts.

Ralph Metzger/Alamy

"It’s not going to be like, ‘Oh, I’ll read and see what I’m going to do'. No, it’s a pause. It’s a stop. I won’t be thinking about [work]. I’m not going to be taking phone calls."

But if like many fans out there, you're saddened by the news, Cranston has still got plenty of projects left in the tank before he absconds to pastures new.

One project that could be in the pipeline is the much talked about Malcolm in The Middle film. Yes, really.

Cranston played Hal in the hit series, and says he'd be up for a reboot if the idea was good enough.

Speaking to the Independent, the actor said: "If they can come up with a great idea, a legitimate idea, then he’ll pursue it. But if not, then nah. I don’t need a job. I’ve got plenty of jobs.

"I don’t need it, but I’d want it if it was a great idea."

Let's hope they come up with one then, eh?