Award-Winning Creator Gilligan Himself Unveils His Sci-Fi Influences Behind His New Series Pluribus
After an extended hiatus from the science fiction genre, Vince Gilligan is making a comeback to his roots. Starting out with The Iconic X-Files, where he wrote three dozen installments, plus even writing the screenplay behind the superhero comedy Hancock, the creator has spent the past decade-plus immersed in the universe of Breaking Bad Universe. This fall, with his latest streaming series Pluribus, he’s coming back home toward the genre which launched his career.
A Secretive Premise with Cryptic Trailers
The plot and concept for Pluribus are closely guarded. The trailers and teasers have all been intentionally vague. In one, a short clip depicts a woman alone in an office at night calmly taking donuts from a container marked “Feel free!” and licking each one prior to placing them carefully into its place. Reviewers cannot reveal to disclose details about the show’s explosive first episode, beyond the fact the story kicks off when today’s society transforms dramatically.
Gilligan’s Sci-Fi Watchlist
Because specifics about the plot or development were off-limits, Gilligan fielded a simple inquiry: Which other sci-fi shows or movies ought fans see to prepare for Pluribus?
“Both the original and the remake adaptations from Invasion of the Body Snatchers; that’s an excellent reference point,” he states. “Twilight Zone, that’s forever my go-to. The Thing, the John Carpenter film. I like each one, but I especially like the John Carpenter version.”
A Love Letter for Sci-Fi Enthusiasts
If you’re a fan of science fiction or scary movies, you’ll likely recognize the tales inspiring Pluribus. Its inspirations are far from subtle — and that’s exactly the idea. Gilligan says his goal for this series was to play with the genre itself.
“I was thinking of every science fiction trope and horror conventions I could throw into this show, and then flip each one upside down,” Gilligan adds. “ That was made me excited.”
In other words: Pluribus is a sci-fi show for sci-fi fans. Therefore, if you’re coming to it as a Breaking Bad superfan who’s never been much for science fiction, you may want to complete some preparation beforehand. The showrunner has now offered the essential watchlist.
Pluribus debuts Nov. 7 on Apple TV+.
