Vince Gilligan Himself Reveals the Science Fiction Inspirations For His Upcoming Series Pluribus
Following an extended hiatus away from sci-fi storytelling, Vince Gilligan is making a return to where he began. Launching his career with The Iconic X-Files, where he penned three dozen installments, plus also crafting the screenplay for Will Smith’s film Hancock, the creator has spent the past decade-plus immersed in the world of Breaking Bad. This fall, with his new Apple TV project Pluribus, he’s coming back home toward sci-fi which launched his journey.
A Mysterious Plot and Cryptic Trailers
The plot and concept for Pluribus are closely guarded. The trailers and teasers are intentionally vague. For example, a brief scene shows a female character by herself at work at night calmly taking pastries from a container labeled “Feel free!” and licking each one prior to returning them carefully back in the box. Critics aren’t allowed to disclose anything about the series’ explosive premiere, except that the narrative begins as our modern world transforms dramatically.
The Creator’s Science Fiction Watchlist
Since specifics on the plot or production could not be discussed, Gilligan fielded a simple question: What additional sci-fi shows or films should viewers watch to prepare for Pluribus?
“Both the 1956 and 1978 adaptations of Invasion of the Body Snatchers; that’s an excellent touchstone,” Gilligan explains. “The Twilight Zone, that’s forever my favorite. The Thing, John Carpenter's film. I enjoy each one, though I particularly love Carpenter’s take.”
An Homage for Science Fiction Enthusiasts
For those who are a fan of sci-fi or horror, you’ll likely identify the stories inspiring Pluribus. Its inspirations are far from understated — and that’s the point. Gilligan notes his goal for the new show was to riff on the genre itself.
“I was thinking of every sci-fi clichés and horror conventions I could throw into this show, before flip all of those tropes onto their head,” he adds. “ That was made me excited.”
Put simply: Pluribus serves as a sci-fi show for sci-fi fans. So if you’re coming the show being a Breaking Bad devotee who isn’t typically into science fiction, you may want to do a bit of homework in advance. The showrunner has now offered the curriculum.
Pluribus debuts November 7 on Apple TV.