Award-Winning Creator Gilligan Reveals His Science Fiction Inspirations For His Upcoming Show Pluribus
After a long break away from the science fiction genre, Vince Gilligan is staging a return to where he began. Starting out with The Iconic X-Files Series, where he penned 30 episodes, plus even writing the script for the superhero comedy Hancock, the creator has spent recent years focused on the universe of Breaking Bad. Now, with his new streaming series Pluribus, he’s coming full circle toward the genre which launched his career.
A Mysterious Premise with Cryptic Trailers
The plot and concept for Pluribus remain closely guarded. The trailers and previews have all been intentionally vague. In one, a short clip depicts a woman by herself at work at night nonchalantly lifting donuts from a box marked “Help yourself!” then tasting each one before placing the treats neatly back in its place. Critics cannot reveal to say anything about the show’s thrilling first episode, except that the narrative begins as our modern world transforms in a significant way.
Gilligan’s Science Fiction Recommendations
Because specifics about the plot or production were off-limits, the showrunner was asked a simple question: What other science fiction series or movies ought viewers see to prepare before Pluribus?
“Both the original and the remake versions of Body Snatchers; that’s an excellent touchstone,” Gilligan states. “The Twilight Zone, that's always my favorite. The Thing, the John Carpenter version. I like both versions, though I particularly love Carpenter’s take.”
A Love Letter to Sci-Fi Enthusiasts
For those who are an admirer of science fiction or scary movies, you will probably identify the stories that influenced Pluribus. The show’s influences aren’t exactly subtle — and that’s the point. Gilligan notes his aim for the new show was to riff on sci-fi tropes.
“I was thinking of all the science fiction trope and horror-movie trope I could throw into this show, before flip all of those tropes onto their head,” Gilligan says. “ That’s what made me excited.”
In other words: Pluribus serves as a science fiction series aimed at sci-fi fans. So if you’re coming to it as a Breaking Bad superfan who’s never been into science fiction, it’s wise to do some preparation beforehand. The showrunner has now offered the curriculum.
Pluribus premieres Nov. 7 on Apple TV+.
