Vince Gilligan Himself Unveils the Science Fiction Inspirations Behind His Upcoming Series Titled Pluribus

Following an extended hiatus from sci-fi storytelling, Vince Gilligan is making a comeback back to his roots. Starting out on The Iconic X-Files, in which he penned three dozen installments, plus even writing the script for Will Smith’s film Hancock, Gilligan devoted recent years focused on the universe of Breaking Bad Universe. Now, via his new Apple TV project Pluribus, he returns full circle to the genre which launched his journey.

A Secretive Premise with Vague Trailers

The storyline and concept for Pluribus are closely guarded. Promotional clips and previews are tantalizingly ambiguous. In one, a brief scene shows a female character alone in an office at night calmly taking pastries from a box marked “Feel free!” then tasting them before placing them carefully into the box. Critics cannot reveal to say details about the series’ explosive first episode, except that the narrative begins when our modern world transforms in a significant way.

The Creator’s Sci-Fi Recommendations

Since details on the story or production were off-limits, Gilligan fielded an innocuous question: Which additional sci-fi shows or films should fans watch to prepare for Pluribus?

“Both the 1956 and 1978 adaptations from Body Snatchers; that's a good touchstone,” he states. “The Twilight Zone, that's always my go-to. The Thing, John Carpenter's film. I like both versions, but I particularly love Carpenter’s take.”

A Love Letter for Science Fiction Enthusiasts

For those who are a fan of science fiction or scary movies, you’ll likely identify the tales that influenced Pluribus. Its inspirations aren’t exactly subtle — and that’s the point. The creator notes his aim with the new show was to riff on the genre itself.

“I was thinking of every sci-fi clichés and horror conventions I could throw into this show, before turn each one onto their head,” he says. “ That was what tickled me.”

In other words: Pluribus serves as a science fiction series for sci-fi fans. Therefore, if you’re coming the show as a Breaking Bad superfan who’s never been much for sci-fi, it’s wise to complete a bit of homework in advance. Gilligan has now offered the curriculum.

Pluribus debuts November 7 on Apple TV.