Vince Gilligan Himself Unveils His Sci-Fi Inspirations Behind His New Series 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 on The Iconic X-Files Series, in which he wrote three dozen installments, and even crafting the screenplay for Will Smith’s film Hancock, Gilligan devoted the past decade-plus focused on the world of Breaking Bad Universe. This fall, via his new streaming series Pluribus, he returns full circle toward the genre which launched his career.
A Secretive Plot with Vague Trailers
The storyline and concept for Pluribus remain closely guarded. The trailers and previews have all been intentionally ambiguous. In one, a brief scene shows a woman by herself at work at night nonchalantly taking donuts out of a box labeled “Help yourself!” and licking them prior to returning them carefully back in the box. Reviewers cannot reveal to say anything regarding the series’ explosive first episode, beyond the fact the narrative begins as today’s society changes dramatically.
Gilligan’s Sci-Fi Recommendations
Since specifics about the story or development could not be discussed, Gilligan fielded a simple question: Which other sci-fi shows or films should fans see to prepare for Pluribus?
“Both the original and the remake adaptations from Body Snatchers; that’s an excellent touchstone,” Gilligan explains. “The Twilight Zone, that’s forever my favorite. The Thing, John Carpenter's version. I enjoy both versions, but I particularly love Carpenter’s take.”
A Love Letter for Sci-Fi Enthusiasts
If you’re an admirer of science fiction or scary movies, you’ll likely identify the tales inspiring Pluribus. Its inspirations are far from subtle — which is the point. The creator notes his goal for the new show was to riff on sci-fi tropes.
“My thought process involved of every science fiction trope and horror conventions I could incorporate into the series, and then turn each one upside down,” Gilligan says. “ That’s what what tickled me.”
In other words: Pluribus serves as a sci-fi show aimed at sci-fi fans. Therefore, if you approach to it as a Breaking Bad superfan who’s never been much for sci-fi, it’s wise to do some preparation beforehand. Gilligan has now offered the essential watchlist.
Pluribus premieres Nov. 7 on Apple TV+.
