Vince Gilligan Himself Shares the Sci-Fi Inspirations Behind His New Show Titled Pluribus
Following an extended hiatus away from the science fiction genre, Vince Gilligan is staging a comeback back to where he began. Launching his career with The Iconic X-Files Series, where he wrote 30 episodes, and also writing the screenplay behind Will Smith’s film Hancock, the creator devoted recent years focused on the world of Breaking Bad. Now, via his new streaming series Pluribus, he returns back home toward sci-fi which launched his career.
A Mysterious Premise with Cryptic Teasers
The storyline and concept of Pluribus remain closely guarded. The trailers and teasers have all been intentionally vague. In one, a brief scene shows a female character alone in an office after hours calmly lifting pastries out of a box marked “Help yourself!” then tasting each one prior to placing them neatly into its place. Critics aren’t allowed to disclose details regarding the show’s thrilling first episode, except the fact the story begins when today’s society changes in a significant way.
Gilligan’s Sci-Fi Recommendations
Since details about the plot or production could not be discussed, Gilligan fielded a simple inquiry: What additional science fiction series or movies ought viewers watch to prepare before Pluribus?
“Each of the original and the remake adaptations of Body Snatchers; that’s an excellent reference point,” he states. “Twilight Zone, that's always my favorite. The Thing, the John Carpenter film. I like both versions, but I particularly love Carpenter’s take.”
An Homage to Science Fiction Enthusiasts
If you’re a fan of sci-fi or horror, you will probably recognize the tales inspiring Pluribus. Its inspirations are far from understated — which is exactly the idea. The creator says his aim for the new show was to play with the genre itself.
“I was thinking of all the sci-fi clichés and horror conventions I could throw into the series, before flip all of those tropes onto their head,” he adds. “ That’s what made me excited.”
In other words: Pluribus is a science fiction series aimed at genre lovers. So if you approach the show as a Breaking Bad superfan who’s never been much for science fiction, it’s wise to do a bit of homework in advance. The showrunner just provided the curriculum.
Pluribus premieres November 7 via Apple TV.
