Vince Gilligan Himself Unveils His Science Fiction Inspirations For The Upcoming Show Titled Pluribus
Following a long break away from the science fiction genre, Vince Gilligan is making a comeback to where he began. Launching his career with The Iconic X-Files, in which he wrote 30 episodes, plus even crafting the script for the superhero comedy Hancock, the creator devoted recent years immersed in the world of Breaking Bad. Now, with his latest streaming project Pluribus, he’s coming full circle toward sci-fi which kicked off his career.
A Mysterious Premise and Vague Trailers
The plot and premise for Pluribus remain closely guarded. The trailers and previews have all been intentionally ambiguous. For example, a brief scene depicts a female character by herself at work after hours calmly lifting pastries from a container marked “Feel free!” and licking them prior to placing them carefully back in the box. Reviewers aren’t allowed to say anything about the show’s thrilling first episode, except that the narrative kicks off as our modern world transforms dramatically.
The Creator’s Science Fiction Watchlist
Because details on the plot or development were off-limits, Gilligan was asked a simple inquiry: What other science fiction series or films ought fans see to prepare before Pluribus?
“Both the 1956 and 1978 adaptations from Body Snatchers; that's a good reference point,” Gilligan explains. “The Twilight Zone, that's always my favorite. The Thing, the John Carpenter film. I enjoy each one, but I especially like the John Carpenter version.”
An Homage to Science Fiction Fans
For those who are an admirer of science fiction or scary movies, you’ll likely identify the tales that influenced Pluribus. The show’s influences are far from understated — and that’s the point. The creator notes his aim for this series was to riff on the genre itself.
“My thought process involved of all the science fiction trope and horror conventions I could throw into the series, and then turn each one onto their head,” Gilligan says. “ That was made me excited.”
In other words: Pluribus serves as a sci-fi show for sci-fi fans. So if you approach the show as a Breaking Bad superfan who’s never been into science fiction, it’s wise to complete some preparation in advance. The showrunner has now offered the curriculum.
Pluribus premieres Nov. 7 via Apple TV+.
