Happiness is contagious.
That’s the tagline for the mysterious new sci-fi series from “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul” mastermind Vince Gilligan. Titled “Pluribus,” the show premieres with two episodes Nov. 7 on Apple TV+. The nine-episode drama will conclude its first season on Dec. 26, and it has already been renewed for Season 2.
“Pluribus” marks a reunion between Gilligan and two-time Emmy nominee Rhea Seehorn, who played Kim Wexler opposite Bob Odenkirk on “Better Call Saul.” On “Pluribus,” Seehorn is Carol, “the most miserable person on Earth” who “must save the world from happiness.” Details about the plot of the show are scant.
Apple TV+ also announced additional casting for the series. Starring alongside Seehorn are Karolina Wydra (“Sneaky Pete”) and Carlos-Manuel Vesga (“Donde Tú Quieras”), and guest stars Miriam Shor (“American Fiction”) and Samba Schutte (“Our Flag Means Death”).
In a cryptic, 30-second teaser for the series, a woman wearing pink scrubs licks donuts and places them back into a box labeled “Help yourself” with a smiley face.
“Pluribus” is produced by Sony Pictures Television and executive produced by Gilligan alongside Gordon Smith, Alison Tatlock, Diane Mercer, Allyce Ozarski and Jeff Frost. Jenn Carroll and Trina Siopy serve as co-executive producers. Aside from the short-lived 2015 dramedy “Battle Creek,” which Gilligan co-created with David Shore, “Pluribus” marks Gilligan’s first venture outside of the world of “Breaking Bad” in 17 years.
Teasing the show with Variety in 2023, Gilligan said “Pluribus” has “no crime, and no methamphetamine.” “The world changes very abruptly in the first episode, and then it is quite different. It’s the modern world — the world we live in — but it changes very abruptly,” he added. “And the consequences that that reaps hopefully provide drama for many, many episodes after that.”
Watch the brief teaser for “Pluribus” below.
