Award-Winning Creator Gilligan Shares the Sci-Fi Influences For The New Show Pluribus
After an extended hiatus from the science fiction genre, the celebrated showrunner is making a return to his roots. Launching his career on The X-Files, in which he penned three dozen installments, and also crafting the screenplay for Will Smith’s film Hancock, Gilligan devoted recent years immersed in the universe of Breaking Bad. This fall, via his new Apple TV project Pluribus, he returns back home to sci-fi that launched his journey.
A Secretive Premise and Cryptic Trailers
The plot and premise of Pluribus remain top secret. Promotional clips and teasers are tantalizingly vague. For example, a short clip shows a woman by herself in an office after hours nonchalantly lifting donuts from a container marked “Help yourself!” and licking them before returning the treats neatly into the box. Critics cannot reveal to say anything regarding the series’ thrilling premiere, beyond that the narrative kicks off when today’s society changes dramatically.
Gilligan’s Sci-Fi Recommendations
Because details about the story or development were off-limits, Gilligan fielded an innocuous inquiry: Which other science fiction series or movies ought viewers watch to prepare for Pluribus?
“Each of the 1956 and 1978 versions of Body Snatchers; that’s an excellent reference point,” he states. “Twilight Zone, that’s forever my go-to. The Thing, the John Carpenter film. I enjoy both versions, but I especially like Carpenter’s take.”
An Homage to Science Fiction Enthusiasts
For those who are a fan of sci-fi or horror, you will probably identify the tales that influenced Pluribus. The show’s influences aren’t exactly subtle — and that’s exactly the idea. The creator notes his aim for the new show was to play with the genre itself.
“My thought process involved of all the science fiction trope and horror-movie trope I could incorporate into this show, and then turn all of those tropes onto their head,” Gilligan adds. “ That was made me excited.”
In other words: Pluribus is a science fiction series aimed at sci-fi fans. Therefore, if you approach the show as a Breaking Bad devotee who isn’t typically into sci-fi, you may want to complete some preparation in advance. The showrunner just provided the curriculum.
Pluribus debuts November 7 on Apple TV.
