Vince Gilligan Himself Reveals the Science Fiction Inspirations Behind The New Series Titled Pluribus
Following an extended hiatus from the science fiction genre, the celebrated showrunner is staging a return back to where he began. Starting out on The Iconic X-Files Series, in which he wrote three dozen installments, plus even writing the screenplay for the superhero comedy Hancock, Gilligan has spent recent years immersed in the world from Breaking Bad Universe. Now, with his new streaming series Pluribus, he’s coming back home toward sci-fi that kicked off his career.
A Mysterious Premise and Vague Teasers
The storyline and premise of Pluribus remain closely guarded. The trailers and previews are intentionally vague. For example, a short clip depicts a female character by herself in an office at night nonchalantly lifting pastries from a container labeled “Feel free!” and licking each one prior to returning them neatly into the box. Critics cannot reveal to say anything regarding the series’ thrilling premiere, except that the narrative kicks off when today’s society changes in a significant way.
Gilligan’s Science Fiction Recommendations
Because specifics about the plot or development could not be discussed, Gilligan fielded a simple inquiry: What additional sci-fi shows or films ought fans see to prepare before Pluribus?
“Each of the 1956 and 1978 versions from Invasion of the Body Snatchers; that's a good reference point,” he explains. “Twilight Zone, that's always my go-to. The Thing, the John Carpenter film. I enjoy both versions, but I particularly love the John Carpenter version.”
An Homage for Sci-Fi Fans
If you’re a fan of sci-fi or horror, you will probably identify the stories inspiring Pluribus. The show’s influences are far from understated — which is exactly the idea. The creator notes his aim with the new show was to play with sci-fi tropes.
“My thought process involved of all the science fiction trope and horror conventions I could incorporate into the series, and then turn all of those tropes onto their head,” Gilligan adds. “ That’s what made me excited.”
In other words: Pluribus is a sci-fi show aimed at genre lovers. Therefore, if you’re coming the show being a Breaking Bad devotee who isn’t typically into sci-fi, you may want to do a bit of homework beforehand. Gilligan has now offered the curriculum.
Pluribus debuts November 7 on Apple TV.
