🔗 Share this article Vince Gilligan Himself Unveils the Sci-Fi Influences Behind The New Series Pluribus Following an extended hiatus from the science fiction genre, Vince Gilligan is making a comeback to where he began. Launching his career on The Iconic X-Files, where he penned 30 episodes, and even writing the screenplay behind the superhero comedy Hancock, the creator has spent recent years immersed in the world of Breaking Bad. This fall, with his latest streaming project Pluribus, he’s coming back home to sci-fi which launched his journey. A Mysterious Plot with Cryptic Teasers The plot and premise for Pluribus remain top secret. The trailers and previews have all been intentionally ambiguous. In one, a short clip depicts a female character alone at work at night calmly lifting donuts out of a container labeled “Help yourself!” then tasting each one prior to placing them neatly into its place. Critics aren’t allowed to disclose details regarding the series’ thrilling premiere, except that the story kicks off when today’s society transforms dramatically. Gilligan’s Science Fiction Watchlist Because details on the plot or development were off-limits, the showrunner was asked a simple question: Which additional sci-fi shows or movies ought fans watch to get ready for Pluribus? “Both the 1956 and 1978 versions of Invasion of the Body Snatchers; that's a good reference point,” Gilligan explains. “The Twilight Zone, that's always my go-to. The Thing, the John Carpenter film. I like each one, though I especially like the John Carpenter version.” An Homage for Science Fiction Enthusiasts For those who are a fan of sci-fi or horror, you will probably recognize the stories that influenced Pluribus. The show’s influences aren’t exactly understated — and that’s the point. Gilligan says his goal for the new show was to play with the genre itself. “I was thinking of all the science fiction trope and horror conventions I could incorporate into the series, and then flip each one upside down,” he says. “ That was what tickled me.” In other words: Pluribus serves as a science fiction series for genre lovers. Therefore, if you approach to it as a Breaking Bad devotee who’s never been much for sci-fi, it’s wise to do a bit of homework in advance. Gilligan just provided the curriculum. Pluribus debuts Nov. 7 on Apple TV+.