Vince Gilligan Reveals the Science Fiction Inspirations For His New Series Titled Pluribus
Following a long break from the science fiction genre, Vince Gilligan is making a comeback back to where he began. Launching his career on The X-Files Series, where he wrote three dozen installments, plus even crafting the script behind Will Smith’s film Hancock, the creator devoted recent years immersed in the world of Breaking Bad Universe. This fall, with his latest streaming project Pluribus, he’s coming full circle to sci-fi that kicked off his journey.
A Secretive Premise with Cryptic Trailers
The plot and concept for Pluribus are closely guarded. The trailers and previews are tantalizingly ambiguous. In one, a brief scene depicts a female character by herself in an office after hours nonchalantly taking donuts out of a box labeled “Help yourself!” and licking them prior to returning them carefully back in its place. Reviewers cannot reveal to say details regarding the show’s thrilling premiere, except that the narrative kicks off as today’s society transforms dramatically.
The Creator’s Science Fiction Recommendations
Because specifics on the story or production were off-limits, Gilligan fielded a simple inquiry: What other sci-fi shows or movies ought fans see to prepare before Pluribus?
“Each of the original and the remake adaptations of Invasion of the Body Snatchers; that’s an excellent touchstone,” Gilligan explains. “The Twilight Zone, that’s forever my favorite. The Thing, John Carpenter's film. I like both versions, but I especially like Carpenter’s take.”
An Homage to Science Fiction Fans
For those who are an admirer of sci-fi or horror, you will probably recognize the stories that influenced Pluribus. The show’s influences aren’t exactly subtle — which is the point. The creator says his goal for the new show was to riff on the genre itself.
“I was thinking of every science fiction trope and horror conventions I could incorporate into the series, before turn each one onto their head,” he says. “ That was what tickled me.”
In other words: Pluribus is a sci-fi show aimed at sci-fi fans. Therefore, if you approach the show as a Breaking Bad superfan who’s never been into sci-fi, it’s wise to do a bit of homework beforehand. Gilligan just provided the curriculum.
Pluribus debuts November 7 on Apple TV+.
