Vince Gilligan Shares the Sci-Fi Inspirations For The New Show Titled Pluribus
After a long break from the science fiction genre, the celebrated showrunner is making a return to his roots. Starting out with The X-Files, where he wrote 30 episodes, plus even crafting the script behind Will Smith’s film Hancock, Gilligan devoted the past decade-plus focused on the universe from Breaking Bad Universe. Now, with his new Apple TV project Pluribus, he returns full circle toward the genre that launched his career.
A Mysterious Plot and Vague Teasers
The storyline and concept of Pluribus are closely guarded. The trailers and previews have all been tantalizingly vague. In one, a brief scene depicts a woman by herself at work after hours calmly lifting donuts out of a container labeled “Help yourself!” and licking them prior to placing the treats carefully back in the box. Reviewers aren’t allowed to disclose details about the series’ thrilling first episode, beyond the fact the story kicks off when our modern world changes in a significant way.
The Creator’s Sci-Fi Watchlist
Because specifics about the story or development were off-limits, the showrunner was asked an innocuous inquiry: What additional science fiction series or films ought fans watch to get ready for Pluribus?
“Both the 1956 and 1978 versions from Body Snatchers; that’s an excellent touchstone,” Gilligan explains. “Twilight Zone, that's always my favorite. The Thing, the John Carpenter film. I enjoy both versions, though I particularly love the John Carpenter version.”
An Homage for Sci-Fi Fans
If you’re a fan of science fiction or scary movies, you will probably identify the tales inspiring Pluribus. The show’s influences aren’t exactly subtle — which is the point. The creator notes his aim with this series was to riff on sci-fi tropes.
“My thought process involved of every sci-fi clichés and horror conventions I could incorporate into the series, before flip all of those tropes upside down,” Gilligan says. “ That was what tickled me.”
In other words: Pluribus is a sci-fi show aimed at sci-fi fans. So if you’re coming the show as a Breaking Bad superfan who isn’t typically into sci-fi, you may want to complete some preparation in advance. Gilligan has now offered the curriculum.
Pluribus premieres November 7 on Apple TV+.
