Award-Winning Creator Gilligan Himself Reveals the Science Fiction Influences For The Upcoming Series Titled Pluribus

After a long break away from sci-fi storytelling, the celebrated showrunner is making a comeback back to where he began. Starting out on The X-Files, where he wrote three dozen installments, and even crafting the screenplay behind Will Smith’s film Hancock, the creator has spent the past decade-plus immersed in the world from Breaking Bad Universe. Now, via his latest streaming project Pluribus, he returns back home toward the genre that launched his journey.

A Secretive Plot and Cryptic Trailers

The storyline and concept of Pluribus are closely guarded. Promotional clips and previews have all been intentionally ambiguous. For example, a short clip depicts a woman alone in an office after hours nonchalantly lifting pastries from a box labeled “Feel free!” and licking each one before returning the treats carefully into the box. Critics cannot reveal to say details regarding the show’s explosive first episode, except that the story begins as today’s society changes dramatically.

Gilligan’s Science Fiction Watchlist

Because specifics about the story or development were off-limits, Gilligan fielded a simple question: Which additional sci-fi shows or movies ought viewers watch to get ready before Pluribus?

“Each of the original and the remake versions of Invasion of the Body Snatchers; that's a good touchstone,” Gilligan explains. “Twilight Zone, that’s forever my favorite. The Thing, the John Carpenter film. I enjoy both versions, though I particularly love the John Carpenter version.”

A Love Letter for Science Fiction Enthusiasts

For those who are an admirer of science fiction or scary movies, you’ll likely recognize the tales inspiring Pluribus. The show’s influences are far from understated — and that’s the point. Gilligan says his aim for the new show was to play with 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 onto their head,” he says. “ That was made me excited.”

Put simply: Pluribus serves as a sci-fi show aimed at genre lovers. So if you approach the show as a Breaking Bad superfan who isn’t typically much for science fiction, you may want to complete a bit of homework in advance. Gilligan has now offered the curriculum.

Pluribus premieres November 7 on Apple TV+.