Award-Winning Creator Gilligan Himself Reveals His Science Fiction Influences Behind His Upcoming Show Titled Pluribus
Following an extended hiatus from sci-fi storytelling, the celebrated showrunner is staging a comeback to where he began. Launching his career with The X-Files Series, in which he wrote 30 episodes, and even writing the script behind Will Smith’s film Hancock, the creator devoted the past decade-plus immersed in the universe of Breaking Bad. This fall, via his latest streaming series Pluribus, he returns full circle to sci-fi that kicked off his career.
A Mysterious Plot and Vague Trailers
The storyline and premise for Pluribus remain top secret. Promotional clips and previews have all been intentionally ambiguous. For example, a brief scene shows a female character alone at work after hours calmly lifting pastries out of a box labeled “Help yourself!” and licking them before returning them neatly into its place. Critics aren’t allowed to disclose anything about the show’s thrilling first episode, beyond that the narrative kicks off as today’s society changes dramatically.
The Creator’s Science Fiction Recommendations
Because specifics about the story or production were off-limits, the showrunner fielded an innocuous inquiry: What other science fiction series or movies should fans see to get ready for Pluribus?
“Both the 1956 and 1978 adaptations of Invasion of the Body Snatchers; that's a good reference point,” he states. “The Twilight Zone, that's always my favorite. The Thing, John Carpenter's version. I enjoy each one, though I particularly love Carpenter’s take.”
A Love Letter for Science Fiction Enthusiasts
If you’re a fan of sci-fi or horror, you will probably identify the tales that influenced Pluribus. Its inspirations aren’t exactly understated — which is the point. The creator notes his aim for the new show was to riff on sci-fi tropes.
“I was thinking of every sci-fi clichés and horror conventions I could incorporate into this show, and then flip all of those tropes upside down,” Gilligan says. “ That’s what made me excited.”
Put simply: Pluribus serves as a science fiction series for sci-fi fans. So if you approach the show as a Breaking Bad superfan who isn’t typically into science fiction, you may want to do a bit of homework in advance. Gilligan just provided the essential watchlist.
Pluribus debuts November 7 via Apple TV+.
