Vince Gilligan Himself Shares the Science Fiction Inspirations Behind His New Series Titled Pluribus
After an extended hiatus away from sci-fi storytelling, the celebrated showrunner is making a comeback back to his roots. Starting out on The Iconic X-Files Series, where he penned 30 episodes, and also crafting the script behind the superhero comedy Hancock, Gilligan devoted recent years focused on the world of Breaking Bad Universe. This fall, via his new Apple TV series Pluribus, he returns full circle to sci-fi which launched his journey.
A Mysterious Premise with Cryptic Teasers
The storyline and premise for Pluribus remain top secret. The trailers and previews are tantalizingly ambiguous. For example, a brief scene shows a female character by herself at work after hours calmly taking donuts from a box marked “Feel free!” then tasting them before placing them neatly into its place. Critics cannot reveal to say anything regarding the series’ thrilling first episode, except that the narrative kicks off when our modern world transforms in a significant way.
Gilligan’s Science Fiction Recommendations
Since details about the plot or production were off-limits, the showrunner fielded a simple question: What additional sci-fi shows or films should viewers see to get ready before Pluribus?
“Each of the 1956 and 1978 adaptations of Body Snatchers; that’s an excellent touchstone,” he explains. “Twilight Zone, that's always my favorite. The Thing, John Carpenter's version. I like both versions, but I particularly love the John Carpenter version.”
A Love Letter to Sci-Fi Fans
If you’re an admirer of sci-fi or horror, you will probably identify the tales that influenced Pluribus. The show’s influences aren’t exactly subtle — which is exactly the idea. Gilligan notes his aim with the new show was to riff on sci-fi tropes.
“My thought process involved of every sci-fi clichés and horror-movie trope I could incorporate into the series, and then turn each one upside down,” Gilligan adds. “ That’s what made me excited.”
Put simply: Pluribus serves as a science fiction series for genre lovers. So if you approach the show being a Breaking Bad superfan who isn’t typically into sci-fi, it’s wise to do a bit of homework in advance. The showrunner just provided the curriculum.
Pluribus premieres November 7 on Apple TV+.
