Award-Winning Creator Gilligan Himself Unveils His Science Fiction Inspirations Behind His New Show Pluribus
After an extended hiatus from the science fiction genre, Vince Gilligan is staging a return to where he began. Launching his career on The X-Files, in which he wrote three dozen installments, and even crafting the screenplay behind Will Smith’s film Hancock, the creator devoted recent years focused on the world of Breaking Bad Universe. Now, via his new Apple TV project Pluribus, he’s coming full circle to sci-fi that kicked off his career.
A Secretive Plot with Cryptic Trailers
The storyline and premise for Pluribus are closely guarded. The trailers and previews are intentionally vague. In one, a brief scene shows a woman alone at work at night nonchalantly lifting pastries from a container marked “Feel free!” then tasting them prior to returning the treats neatly into the box. Reviewers cannot reveal to disclose anything about the show’s explosive premiere, beyond the fact the narrative kicks off when today’s society transforms in a significant way.
The Creator’s Science Fiction Recommendations
Since details about the story or development could not be discussed, the showrunner fielded an innocuous question: Which other science fiction series or movies ought viewers watch to prepare for Pluribus?
“Both the 1956 and 1978 adaptations of Invasion of the Body Snatchers; that’s an excellent touchstone,” Gilligan states. “Twilight Zone, that’s forever my favorite. The Thing, John Carpenter's version. I enjoy both versions, though I particularly love Carpenter’s take.”
A Love Letter to Sci-Fi Enthusiasts
For those who are an admirer of sci-fi or horror, you will probably recognize the stories that influenced Pluribus. Its inspirations aren’t exactly understated — and that’s the point. The creator says his aim with this series was to play with sci-fi tropes.
“I was thinking of all the science fiction trope and horror conventions I could throw into the series, and then turn each one upside down,” Gilligan says. “ That’s what made me excited.”
Put simply: Pluribus is a science fiction series aimed at genre lovers. So if you’re coming the show being a Breaking Bad superfan who’s never been into science fiction, you may want to do some preparation beforehand. The showrunner has now offered the essential watchlist.
Pluribus premieres Nov. 7 via Apple TV.
