Vince Gilligan Reveals the Science Fiction Inspirations Behind His Upcoming Series Titled Pluribus
Following a long break from sci-fi storytelling, Vince Gilligan is staging a comeback to his roots. Starting out on The X-Files, where he penned three dozen installments, plus even crafting the script for Will Smith’s film Hancock, the creator has spent the past decade-plus focused on the world from Breaking Bad. Now, via his new Apple TV series Pluribus, he returns back home to the genre that launched his career.
A Mysterious Plot and Cryptic Teasers
The plot and concept for Pluribus are closely guarded. Promotional clips and teasers have all been intentionally ambiguous. For example, a short clip shows a female character by herself in an office after hours nonchalantly taking pastries out of a box marked “Feel free!” and licking them before returning the treats carefully into the box. Reviewers aren’t allowed to say details regarding the series’ thrilling first episode, except that the story begins as our modern world transforms dramatically.
The Creator’s Sci-Fi Watchlist
Since details about the story or development were off-limits, the showrunner was asked an innocuous inquiry: What other science fiction series or movies ought viewers watch to get ready for Pluribus?
“Both the 1956 and 1978 adaptations from Invasion of the Body Snatchers; that's a good reference point,” he explains. “The Twilight Zone, that’s forever my favorite. The Thing, John Carpenter's film. I like both versions, though I particularly love Carpenter’s take.”
An Homage for Sci-Fi Fans
If you’re a fan of sci-fi or horror, you’ll likely recognize the stories inspiring Pluribus. The show’s influences aren’t exactly subtle — which is the point. The creator says his goal for this series was to riff on the genre itself.
“My thought process involved of every sci-fi clichés and horror-movie trope I could throw into the series, before turn all of those tropes upside down,” Gilligan adds. “ That was made me excited.”
In other words: Pluribus is a science fiction series aimed at sci-fi fans. So if you’re coming to it as a Breaking Bad devotee who isn’t typically much for sci-fi, it’s wise to do some preparation in advance. The showrunner just provided the curriculum.
Pluribus premieres Nov. 7 on Apple TV+.
