Vince Gilligan Unveils His Sci-Fi Inspirations Behind The Upcoming Show Pluribus
After an extended hiatus from sci-fi storytelling, Vince Gilligan is making a comeback back to his roots. Starting out on The X-Files, in which he penned three dozen installments, plus even writing the script behind the superhero comedy Hancock, Gilligan has spent recent years immersed in the world of Breaking Bad. Now, via his new Apple TV project Pluribus, he returns back home to the genre which kicked off his journey.
A Secretive Premise with Cryptic Trailers
The storyline and concept for Pluribus are top secret. Promotional clips and teasers are tantalizingly ambiguous. In one, a brief scene shows a female character alone in an office after hours nonchalantly lifting donuts out of a box marked “Help yourself!” then tasting them prior to returning them carefully into the box. Critics cannot reveal to disclose details regarding the show’s explosive premiere, beyond that the narrative begins when today’s society changes in a significant way.
Gilligan’s Sci-Fi Recommendations
Since details about the story or development could not be discussed, Gilligan was asked a simple inquiry: What other science fiction series or movies ought fans see to prepare before Pluribus?
“Both the 1956 and 1978 adaptations from Invasion of the Body Snatchers; that's a good touchstone,” Gilligan explains. “Twilight Zone, that's always my favorite. The Thing, the John Carpenter version. I enjoy both versions, but I particularly love the John Carpenter version.”
A Love Letter to Science Fiction Enthusiasts
If you’re an admirer of science fiction or scary movies, you’ll likely identify the tales that influenced Pluribus. Its inspirations aren’t exactly understated — which is the point. The creator says his aim with the new show was to play with the genre itself.
“My thought process involved of all the sci-fi clichés and horror conventions I could incorporate into this show, before turn each one upside down,” Gilligan adds. “ That was what tickled me.”
Put simply: Pluribus is a sci-fi show aimed at genre lovers. So if you approach to it as a Breaking Bad devotee who isn’t typically much for sci-fi, it’s wise to complete some preparation beforehand. Gilligan has now offered the curriculum.
Pluribus debuts November 7 on Apple TV.
