Vince Gilligan Himself Shares His Sci-Fi Influences Behind His Upcoming Show Pluribus
Following a long break away from the science fiction genre, Vince Gilligan is making a comeback back to where he began. Launching his career on The Iconic X-Files Series, in which he wrote 30 episodes, and also crafting the screenplay behind Will Smith’s film Hancock, Gilligan devoted the past decade-plus immersed in the world from Breaking Bad Universe. Now, via his new streaming project Pluribus, he returns back home toward the genre that kicked off his journey.
A Mysterious Premise and Vague Teasers
The storyline and concept for Pluribus remain closely guarded. Promotional clips and previews are intentionally ambiguous. In one, a short clip shows a woman by herself at work at night nonchalantly taking pastries out of a box labeled “Feel free!” and licking each one prior to placing the treats neatly back in its place. Reviewers cannot reveal to disclose details regarding the series’ thrilling premiere, beyond that the story begins when our modern world changes in a significant way.
Gilligan’s Science Fiction Recommendations
Because details about the story or production were off-limits, the showrunner fielded a simple question: Which additional sci-fi shows or movies ought fans see to get ready for Pluribus?
“Both the original and the remake adaptations from Body Snatchers; that's a good touchstone,” Gilligan states. “The Twilight Zone, that’s forever my go-to. The Thing, the John Carpenter version. I enjoy each one, though I particularly love Carpenter’s take.”
A Love Letter to Sci-Fi Enthusiasts
For those who are a fan of science fiction or scary movies, you’ll likely identify the tales that influenced Pluribus. The show’s influences aren’t exactly understated — and that’s exactly the idea. The creator says his aim for the new show was to play with sci-fi tropes.
“I was thinking of every science fiction trope and horror conventions I could incorporate into this show, and then turn each one onto their head,” he adds. “ That was what tickled me.”
In other words: Pluribus is a sci-fi show for genre lovers. Therefore, if you approach the show being a Breaking Bad superfan who isn’t typically into sci-fi, you may want to complete some preparation beforehand. Gilligan has now offered the curriculum.
Pluribus debuts November 7 via Apple TV.
