Vince Gilligan Himself Unveils His Science Fiction Influences For His New Show Titled Pluribus
Following a long break away from sci-fi storytelling, the celebrated showrunner is staging a comeback to where he began. Launching his career on The X-Files, in which he wrote 30 episodes, and even crafting the script for the superhero comedy Hancock, the creator devoted the past decade-plus immersed in the world of Breaking Bad Universe. This fall, via his latest streaming project Pluribus, he returns full circle to the genre that launched his journey.
A Secretive Premise and Vague Trailers
The storyline and premise for Pluribus are top secret. The trailers and teasers have all been tantalizingly ambiguous. In one, a brief scene shows a woman by herself at work at night nonchalantly lifting pastries out of a container marked “Feel free!” and licking each one prior to returning them carefully back in the box. Critics aren’t allowed to say details about the show’s explosive premiere, beyond the fact the story begins as today’s society transforms in a significant way.
The Creator’s Sci-Fi Recommendations
Because details about the story or production were off-limits, Gilligan was asked a simple inquiry: Which other sci-fi shows or films should fans watch to prepare before Pluribus?
“Both the 1956 and 1978 versions of Invasion of the Body Snatchers; that’s an excellent touchstone,” Gilligan states. “The Twilight Zone, that’s forever my go-to. The Thing, John Carpenter's film. I like both versions, but I particularly love Carpenter’s take.”
A Love Letter for Sci-Fi Fans
If you’re an admirer of science fiction or scary movies, you will probably identify the tales inspiring Pluribus. The show’s influences are far from understated — and that’s the point. The creator says his aim with the new show was to play with sci-fi tropes.
“I was thinking of every science fiction trope and horror conventions I could throw into this show, before flip each one onto their head,” he adds. “ That’s what 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’s never been into sci-fi, it’s wise to do some preparation beforehand. The showrunner just provided the essential watchlist.
Pluribus debuts Nov. 7 via Apple TV+.
