Award-Winning Creator Gilligan Reveals the Sci-Fi Inspirations Behind His Upcoming Series Pluribus
After a long break away from the science fiction genre, Vince Gilligan is making a comeback back to his roots. Starting out on The Iconic X-Files, in which he penned three dozen installments, and also crafting the script for the superhero comedy Hancock, Gilligan has spent recent years immersed in the universe of Breaking Bad Universe. This fall, with his new streaming series Pluribus, he’s coming back home toward sci-fi which launched his journey.
A Mysterious Premise and Vague Teasers
The storyline and concept for Pluribus remain closely guarded. Promotional clips and previews have all been intentionally ambiguous. In one, a short clip shows a woman by herself at work at night nonchalantly lifting pastries out of a box labeled “Help yourself!” then tasting each one prior to placing the treats carefully back in the box. Reviewers cannot reveal to disclose anything regarding the show’s thrilling first episode, beyond the fact the story begins when our modern world changes dramatically.
Gilligan’s Sci-Fi Recommendations
Since specifics on the story or development were off-limits, Gilligan was asked a simple inquiry: Which other sci-fi shows or movies should fans watch to get ready for Pluribus?
“Both the 1956 and 1978 adaptations from Body Snatchers; that's a good touchstone,” Gilligan explains. “Twilight Zone, that's always my go-to. The Thing, John Carpenter's version. I enjoy each one, though I particularly love Carpenter’s take.”
A Love Letter to Sci-Fi Fans
If you’re an admirer of sci-fi or horror, you will probably recognize the tales that influenced Pluribus. Its inspirations are far from subtle — and that’s the point. The creator says his goal for the new show was to play with the genre itself.
“I was thinking of every science fiction trope and horror conventions I could throw into this show, before turn all of those tropes onto their head,” he adds. “ That was what tickled me.”
In other words: Pluribus is a science fiction series for sci-fi fans. So if you’re coming to it as a Breaking Bad superfan who isn’t typically much for sci-fi, you may want to complete some preparation beforehand. The showrunner just provided the essential watchlist.
Pluribus premieres November 7 on Apple TV.
