Award-Winning Creator Gilligan Shares the Science Fiction Inspirations Behind His Upcoming Series Titled Pluribus
Following a long break away from the science fiction genre, Vince Gilligan is making a comeback back to his roots. Starting out with The Iconic X-Files Series, in which he penned 30 episodes, and even writing the screenplay for the superhero comedy Hancock, the creator devoted recent years focused on the universe from Breaking Bad. This fall, with his latest streaming project Pluribus, he returns back home toward sci-fi that kicked off his journey.
A Mysterious Plot and Cryptic Trailers
The storyline and concept of Pluribus remain top secret. Promotional clips and previews are tantalizingly ambiguous. For example, a short clip depicts a female character alone in an office at night calmly lifting donuts out of a box labeled “Feel free!” then tasting each one before returning the treats neatly into its place. Reviewers aren’t allowed to say anything regarding the series’ thrilling first episode, except that the narrative begins as our modern world changes in a significant way.
Gilligan’s Sci-Fi Watchlist
Because specifics about the plot or development were off-limits, Gilligan was asked a simple question: Which other sci-fi shows or movies should viewers see to prepare for Pluribus?
“Each of the original and the remake versions of Invasion of the Body Snatchers; that’s an excellent reference point,” Gilligan states. “Twilight Zone, that's always my go-to. The Thing, John Carpenter's film. I enjoy each one, though I particularly love the John Carpenter version.”
A Love Letter for Sci-Fi Enthusiasts
For those who are a fan of science fiction or scary movies, you will probably recognize the stories that influenced Pluribus. Its inspirations are far from subtle — and that’s exactly the idea. The creator notes his aim for this series 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 flip each one onto their head,” Gilligan says. “ That’s what what tickled me.”
Put simply: Pluribus is a sci-fi show for genre lovers. So if you’re coming the show being a Breaking Bad superfan who isn’t typically into sci-fi, you may want to complete a bit of homework beforehand. Gilligan just provided the essential watchlist.
Pluribus debuts Nov. 7 via Apple TV.
