ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The master mind behind “Breaking Bad” is debuting his next highly anticipated project that’s once again putting Albuquerque in the spotlight.
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The show “Pluribus” promises to be a lot different. After decades of writing about what he calls bad guy characters, filmmaker Vince Gilligan says “Pluribus” is a departure. It tells the story of a very different kind of character.
While it is set in Albuquerque, Gilligan says this is not “Breaking Bad” 2.0. Instead, the most miserable person on earth must save the world from happiness. That’s the premise behind the new Apple TV series “Pluribus,” following “Better Call Saul’s” Rhea Seehorn, who stars as Carol. In the series, Carol begins her search for answers after her world is changed.
“One of the things I find interesting writing this thing is to ponder happiness,” said Gilligan.
Although he had reservations, show creator Vince Gilligan chose to film and set “Pluribus” once again in Albuquerque. “I didn’t want people thinking oh, it’s another show in Albuquerque, and it’s another show with Rhea Seehorn, so it must have some connection to ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul’, when in fact it really doesn’t,” said Gilligan.
But Gilligan said his love for the city and rapport with long-time crew drew him back to film in the Land of Enchantment. “Can we do this thing? Can we have a certain piece of wardrobe, kind of like that? Oh yeah, like so-and-so was wearing in season two of Better Call Saul. Yeah, I like that. It saves so much time and effort, but also, I love these guys. They’re like family,” Gilligan said of his crew, who have been with him for decades.
While he knows “Breaking Bad” will top his obituary, Gilligan said he was tired of writing about bad guys figuring out how to get away with something that’s going to hurt others around them. “I was ready to write a good guy or a good woman in the case of Pluribus, someone who, flawed though she may be, she’s trying her best to save the world. She’s not necessarily equipped for the job, but she wants to make the world better,” said Gilligan.
Gilligan shared his hopes for viewers, “I’d love people to watch this show. And first of all, enjoy it, be entertained by it, but maybe also think, you know, maybe the world doesn’t have to be quite as adversarial as it is now. Maybe there’s a way that we could find some common ground.”
The nine-episode series will make its global debut on Apple TV with the first two episodes premiering on Friday, followed by new episodes every Friday through Christmas.
“Pluribus” has also already been picked up for a second season.
