The actor Bryan Cranston notched plenty of kills as Walter White, the fictional Albuquerque chemistry teacher turned drug dealer on the AMC TV series “Breaking Bad.”

On Tuesday, he observed hearings for a couple of men accused of real-life murders on a research trip to the Orleans Parish Criminal District Courthouse.

Cranston sat near-incognito in the audience, wearing shorts and a polo shirt, during morning settings. Still, word quickly spread among judges, prosecutors and public defenders about their famous visitor.

Cranston was polite but tight-lipped when asked about the reason for his visit.

“I’m doing a little research on a project,” he said while walking between courtrooms in the building’s ornate and time-worn Grand Hall. “It’ll be revealed pretty soon.”

The roughly half-hour he spent in chambers with Judge Franz Zibilich might provide a hint about the reason for the Tony Award-winning actor’s visit, however. Showtime announced last month that Cranston is set to play a judge on a 10-episode drama set in New Orleans called “Your Honor.”

In the role, Cranston's son is involved in a hit-and-run accident, according to a synopsis from the network. What follows is a "a high-stakes game of lies, deceit and impossible choices.”

Production on the series is set to begin Sept. 23.