Vince Gilligan Himself Unveils the Science Fiction Influences Behind The Upcoming Show Pluribus
Following an extended hiatus away from sci-fi storytelling, the celebrated showrunner is making a comeback back to where he began. Launching his career on The X-Files, where he wrote 30 episodes, and even writing the screenplay behind Will Smith’s film Hancock, Gilligan devoted recent years immersed in the world of Breaking Bad Universe. Now, via his latest Apple TV series Pluribus, he’s coming full circle toward sci-fi which launched his career.
A Secretive Premise with Cryptic Trailers
The plot and concept for Pluribus remain closely guarded. Promotional clips and previews have all been tantalizingly vague. In one, a brief scene depicts a female character by herself in an office at night nonchalantly taking pastries from a container marked “Feel free!” then tasting each one before placing the treats neatly back in the box. Critics cannot reveal to disclose anything regarding the show’s explosive premiere, except that the narrative kicks off as today’s society transforms dramatically.
Gilligan’s Sci-Fi Recommendations
Since specifics on the plot or production could not be discussed, the showrunner was asked an innocuous inquiry: What other science fiction series or movies ought fans see to get ready before Pluribus?
“Each of the original and the remake versions of Invasion of the Body Snatchers; that's a good touchstone,” Gilligan states. “The 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 Enthusiasts
If you’re a fan of science fiction or scary movies, you will probably recognize the tales that influenced Pluribus. The show’s influences aren’t exactly understated — and that’s the point. The creator notes his aim for this series was to riff on sci-fi tropes.
“I was thinking of every science fiction trope and horror conventions I could incorporate into the series, before flip all of those tropes onto their head,” Gilligan adds. “ That’s what made me excited.”
Put simply: Pluribus is a sci-fi show for genre lovers. So if you approach to it as a Breaking Bad superfan who isn’t typically into sci-fi, it’s wise to do some preparation beforehand. Gilligan just provided the curriculum.
Pluribus premieres November 7 on Apple TV.
