Vince Gilligan, the mastermind behind the captivating and critically acclaimed series
Breaking Bad and its equally successful prequel Better Call Saul is now poised to depart the
crime genre he redefined and return to his science fiction roots with his next highly
anticipated project.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the series finale of Breaking Bad Vince Gilligan was
interviewed by Variety where he revealed the tantalizing details about what we can expect
from his new sci-fi venture.
In this video I’d like to breakdown what all we know so far about this new project
and the reasons many are so excited to see what Vince Gilligan has in store.
Gilligan has certainly made a name for himself with his successful Breaking Bad universe
with its many stand out characters and compelling story arcs.
However in his new show he is returning to the genre where he first honed his craft.
His first big break in his career came when he joined the original X-Files series.
Gilligan was a fan of the show and submitted a script to Fox which ended up becoming the
second season episode Soft Light.
He would go on to write 30 episodes for the sci-fi drama and direct 2.
Later, he went on to co-create the short lived X-Files spin-off series The Lone Gunman which
ran for one season of 13 episodes.
Gilligan’s new sci-fi series was first announced in an exclusive by Deadline back in August
of 2022 with their sources reporting that while the new show was said to harken back
to his X-Files roots it would also be in line with the creator’s signature character driven
approach exploring themes of bending reality while holding a mirror to humanity.
Deadline’s sources revealed that the show was being pitched as thought-provoking but
not a morality tale.
At the time there were comparisons to The Twilight Zone as it was said to be set in
our world with a tweaking on it, focusing on people and exploring the human condition
in an unexpected, surprising way.
Gilligan then received a two-season order from Apple Tv+ a streaming service that has
recently become a hub for critically acclaimed science fiction television.
Production on this new project had already begun when the recent Writers Guild of America
strike occurred, halting the development process.
Now with the writers strike resolved Gilligan commented on the current status of the show
saying, “We’re back to work.
We’re officially back in the writers room’ on Monday.
I’m spending most of my time in New Mexico, because I live here now.
But when I go back [to Los Angeles], we’re going to reopen the writers room’ for the
first couple of weeks in person.
When the strike hit, we were very close to the end of breaking the first season.
So we’re going to go back and finish the second-to-last episode and then get to work
on the last episode.
We lost a lot of momentum, certainly.
I can’t even remember where we were exactly.
So I’m going to be spending this week reading through previous episodes and old notes to
figure out where we stand.
We’re looking forward to getting back to work.
We would have been shooting already if it weren’t for the strike.”
Now that production has resumed, filming is expected to begin as Gilligan described it
“in the teeth of winter lamenting this unfortunate necessity due to the delay from the strike.
The creative freedom inherent in the science fiction genre allows for a multitude of different
types of stories where the only limits are one’s imagination.
When it comes to the type of science fiction Gilligan is looking to create in this new
series he clarified that he wouldn’t classify his show as “heavy science fiction” but
rather he would describe it as mild with a sci-fi element at its core.
Gilligan continued in the interview saying, “there’s no crime, and no methamphetamine.
It’s going to be fun and different.
I have no prediction as to how folks will react to it — whether they’ll love it
or hate it, or somewhere in the vast in-between.
But I know it’s a story that interests me.
Describing the show as fun and different makes it sound as if this new series will still
have Gilligan’s signature tone of dramatic stories infused with humor.
And while the show itself is a departure from the crime genre for Gilligan, fans of the
Breaking Bad universe may be intrigued to learn that this new show will again be set
in Albuquerque.
An environment that became a character in and of itself in Breaking Bad.
And that is not the only familiar element to this new series.
Rhea Seehorn whose performance as Kim Wexler in Better Call Saul received numerous awards
and garnered widespread praise by fans will be headlining this new production.
Despite these familiar elements from Gilligan’s previous work however the showrunner commented
on the differences for this new series saying, “Rhea will be playing a very different character
than she played on “Saul.”
The weird thing is that it takes place in Albuquerque, except it’s a whole different
world.
There’s no overlap that I can see.
She’s playing a character who is not Kim Wexler, but hopefully people will roll with
that.
I’m nervous.
It’ll be interesting to see how folks react to it.”
I do find it interesting and refreshing actually how despite all of Gilligan’s previous successes
he is still concerned, nervous even about whether audiences will be pleased and hoping
that they will like it.
An outlook that unfortunately seems to be dissipating in Hollywood especially among
those who've achieved success who then begin to have a conflated ego and view their work
as doing audiences a favor.
It does sound that while he is including a familiar face and location Gilligan is striving
for something original and is looking to stretch his creative muscles by taking narrative risks
that at the end of the day hopes to resonate with audiences.
When it comes to the actual plot of the series Gilligan offered a taste of what audiences
can expect saying, “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.
And the consequences that that reaps hopefully provide drama for many, many episodes after
that.”
Gilligan’s passion for this new project is certainly palpable and elicits excitement.
While on the surface his comments saying that audiences will either love or hate his new
show, may sound concerning.
Considering his history in the sci-fi genre and his track record for telling gripping
and compelling stories that continue to resonate with viewers, I'm certainly optimistic for
his newest venture.
In an entertainment landscape that often feels saturated with remakes and reboots, the prospect
of an original story is intriguing.
Vince's decision to forgo the safety net of an established intellectual property—where
a ready-made fanbase and the formidable pressure to do justice to beloved franchises are a
given—speaks volumes about his commitment to originality.
While taking on such well-trodden narratives frequently incurs the ire of fans, especially
in the wake of numerous adaptations that have failed to capture the magic of their sources,
Gilligan is consciously embracing a different risk.
He is placing the weight of expectation squarely upon his own shoulders, choosing the path
of the trailblazer over that of the follower.
It’s a bold move that, while inducing understandable nerves about public reception, showcases his
desire to forge new ground.
Gilligan's willingness to explore a fresh universe is a testament to his creative spirit.
He's essentially back in the lab and hoping audiences will like what he’s now cooking
up.
But I’m curious to know what you think about Vince Gilligan’s new show starring Rhea
Seehorn.
What are you hoping or expecting to see from what promises to be a character driven mild
sci-fi series?
Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below.
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