Last August, we reported that Breaking Bad has been picked up for a 16-episode final season.  Since the last three seasons have been 13 episodes each, and AMC would like to keep the Golden Goose going, there was speculation that the last season of TV's best drama would be cut in half.  Today, Bryan Cranston has pretty much confirmed that's what will happen.Hit the jump for more including details on where the new season will pick up [Spoilers for those who haven't seen the finale of season four].Speaking to EW, Cranston said of the upcoming season:

“We’re splitting it,” says Cranston, who’s currently shooting the fourth season premiere in New Mexico. “We’re going to shoot the first eight, then take a four-month production break, then the rest will air next year.”

However, AMC says they're also considering other scenarios.  There's the possibility that Sony Pictures TV won't want a hiatus, or AMC will want all 16 episodes uninterrupted.  But Cranston's statement seems to be the obvious and likely route.  AMC won't have to worry about trying to fill a block in their 2013 schedule, and Sony will provide the production with time to figure out how to end the series.  The only losers in this situation are the fans who will get to enjoy two months of their beloved series before enduring a ten month wait for the resolution.  As for when season five will premiere, AMC hasn't made an official announcement, but actors on the show are saying Mr. White n' Friends will return in July.

So what can we expect when the show returns?

[Spoiler Warning]

Cranston, who is directing the ninth episode of the final season, says the new season, will "pick up right where we left off."  He continues:

“We’re cleaning up the pieces from last season’s huge ordeal where Gus Fring was forced to meet his maker. It’s not as easy as Walter thought. And as we’ve discovered over the years, you don’t really know who Walter White is. I’m still discovering who he is and I’m trying to allow myself to be open to him going darker and darker. There’s physical danger to himself and his family, plus there’s the emotional danger due to his anger and hubris. It’s about the evil that men do and where that takes him.”

Since Scott always does a bang-up job with our Breaking Bad recaps, I don't really have space to present my theory on how the show will end.  So this is as good a place as any:

I think Walter will kill Hank and Jesse at various points in the final season.  Jesse will manage to discover that Walt poisoned Brock, and will want revenge.  Hank will eventually solve the mystery of Heisenberg, so he'll need to be taken care of.  If you're wondering how dark someone like Walter White can go, I think killing his surrogate son and brother-in-law is pretty damn dark.