Vince Gilligan Himself Unveils the Science Fiction Influences For The Upcoming Series Pluribus
Following a long break away from the science fiction genre, the celebrated showrunner is making a return to where he began. Starting out on The Iconic X-Files, in which he penned three dozen installments, plus also crafting the screenplay behind the superhero comedy Hancock, Gilligan devoted recent years immersed in the universe from Breaking Bad Universe. Now, with his new streaming series Pluribus, he returns back home to the genre that kicked off his career.
A Mysterious Premise with Cryptic Teasers
The storyline and premise of Pluribus remain closely guarded. Promotional clips and teasers are tantalizingly vague. For example, a brief scene shows a female character by herself at work at night nonchalantly lifting donuts out of a container marked “Feel free!” then tasting each one prior to placing the treats carefully back in its place. Reviewers cannot reveal to say anything regarding the show’s explosive first episode, beyond the fact the story begins when our modern world transforms in a significant way.
The Creator’s Science Fiction Recommendations
Because details on the story or production were off-limits, the showrunner fielded a simple question: What additional science fiction series or movies should viewers watch to prepare for Pluribus?
“Both the original and the remake versions from Invasion of the Body Snatchers; that's a good reference point,” he explains. “The Twilight Zone, that's always my favorite. The Thing, John Carpenter's version. I enjoy both versions, though I especially like Carpenter’s take.”
An Homage for Sci-Fi Enthusiasts
If you’re a fan of sci-fi or horror, you will probably identify the tales inspiring Pluribus. The show’s influences aren’t exactly subtle — which is exactly the idea. The creator says his goal with this series was to riff on the genre itself.
“My thought process involved of every sci-fi clichés and horror conventions I could throw into this show, before flip each one onto their head,” Gilligan says. “ That’s what what tickled me.”
Put simply: Pluribus serves as a science fiction series for genre lovers. Therefore, if you approach to it as a Breaking Bad superfan who isn’t typically much for science fiction, you may want to do a bit of homework in advance. Gilligan just provided the curriculum.
Pluribus debuts November 7 via Apple TV+.
