Award-Winning Creator Gilligan Himself Reveals His Sci-Fi Inspirations Behind His Upcoming Series Pluribus

After a long break away from the science fiction genre, Vince Gilligan is making a return to where he began. Starting out with The Iconic X-Files Series, in which he wrote 30 episodes, plus even crafting the script behind the superhero comedy Hancock, the creator has spent the past decade-plus focused on the universe of Breaking Bad. This fall, with his latest streaming project Pluribus, he’s coming back home toward the genre that kicked off his journey.

A Mysterious Premise and Vague Trailers

The storyline and premise of Pluribus are closely guarded. The trailers and previews have all been intentionally ambiguous. For example, a brief scene shows a woman alone at work at night calmly lifting donuts out of a box labeled “Help yourself!” and licking each one before placing them neatly into its place. Reviewers cannot reveal to disclose details regarding the series’ explosive premiere, except that the story kicks off when today’s society changes in a significant way.

The Creator’s Sci-Fi Recommendations

Since specifics on the plot or development could not be discussed, the showrunner was asked an innocuous question: Which other sci-fi shows or films ought viewers see to get ready for Pluribus?

“Both the 1956 and 1978 versions of Body Snatchers; that's a good touchstone,” Gilligan states. “Twilight Zone, that’s forever my go-to. The Thing, John Carpenter's version. I like each one, but I especially like Carpenter’s take.”

An Homage for Science Fiction Fans

For those who are a fan of sci-fi or horror, you’ll likely identify the tales that influenced Pluribus. The show’s influences aren’t exactly subtle — which is the point. The creator notes his goal for this series was to riff on sci-fi tropes.

“My thought process involved of every science fiction trope and horror-movie trope I could incorporate into the series, and then flip each one upside down,” Gilligan says. “ That was made me excited.”

Put simply: Pluribus serves as a science fiction series aimed at genre lovers. Therefore, if you approach to it as a Breaking Bad devotee who isn’t typically into science fiction, it’s wise to complete some preparation beforehand. Gilligan has now offered the curriculum.

Pluribus premieres Nov. 7 on Apple TV.