Vince Gilligan Unveils the Sci-Fi Inspirations Behind His New Show Titled Pluribus

Following an extended hiatus away from the science fiction genre, Vince Gilligan is making a return to where he began. Launching his career with The Iconic X-Files Series, where he wrote 30 episodes, plus also crafting the script for Will Smith’s film Hancock, the creator has spent the past decade-plus immersed in the universe of Breaking Bad. This fall, with his latest Apple TV series Pluribus, he returns back home toward sci-fi that kicked off his journey.

A Secretive Premise and Vague Trailers

The plot and concept for Pluribus are closely guarded. Promotional clips and teasers are intentionally vague. For example, a short clip shows a woman by herself at work at night calmly taking donuts from a box marked “Feel free!” and licking each one prior to returning the treats neatly back in the box. Critics cannot reveal to say details regarding the series’ explosive first episode, except that the story kicks off when today’s society transforms dramatically.

Gilligan’s Sci-Fi Watchlist

Since details about the plot or production could not be discussed, Gilligan was asked an innocuous inquiry: What additional sci-fi shows or films should fans watch to prepare for Pluribus?

“Each of the 1956 and 1978 adaptations from Body Snatchers; that's a good reference point,” he explains. “The Twilight Zone, that's always my go-to. The Thing, John Carpenter's film. I like each one, but I particularly love the John Carpenter version.”

An Homage for Sci-Fi Enthusiasts

If you’re an admirer of sci-fi or horror, you’ll likely identify the stories that influenced Pluribus. Its inspirations aren’t exactly understated — which is the point. The creator notes his goal with this series was to riff on the genre itself.

“I was thinking of every science fiction trope and horror-movie trope I could throw into the series, and then flip each one upside down,” Gilligan adds. “ That was made me excited.”

Put simply: Pluribus serves as a science fiction series for sci-fi fans. Therefore, if you’re coming the show as a Breaking Bad devotee who isn’t typically much for science fiction, you may want to complete a bit of homework in advance. The showrunner just provided the curriculum.

Pluribus premieres Nov. 7 on Apple TV+.