Vince Gilligan’s New Albuquerque Series After Breaking Bad

Vince Gilligan makes his much-anticipated return to Albuquerque with Pluribus, a new project that signals a departure from the world of Walter White, promising fresh storytelling while reconnecting with the iconic setting that defined his earlier success.

A Surprising Shift: Vince Gilligan’s Next Chapter

After the critical acclaim of Better Call Saul, few could picture Vince Gilligan taking a lengthy break from television. Now, just two years after closing the curtain on his celebrated spin-off, he is poised to make a remarkable return—this time diving into the waters of science fiction. His upcoming project, titled Pluribus, is set for release on Apple TV, and intriguingly enough, unfolds in Albuquerque—a city that remains deeply intertwined with his creative legacy.

No Multiverse Here: Breaking Bad Connections Ruled Out

The announcement instantly sparked speculation among die-hard fans. Could there be an eventual crossover between this fresh venture and Gilligan’s iconic predecessors? The casting of Rhea Seahorn, so memorable as Kim Wexler, only fueled these theories. However, when pressed by The Verge, Gilligan dismissed the idea outright. His reasoning for returning to New Mexico was practical: reuniting with a trusted production team he has relied on for nearly two decades. Any narrative link to the world of Breaking Bad, he stressed, simply isn’t in the cards—“Don’t hold your breath,” he quipped.

An Alien Threat and Dystopian Satire at Its Core

The true essence of Pluribus lies elsewhere entirely. At its heart stands Carol Sturka, a novelist weary of churning out formulaic romance novels for an audience she finds uninspired. Her ordinary existence is upended by an outbreak: a mysterious extraterrestrial virus that transforms humankind into a hive-minded collective—all except Carol herself. This premise offers fertile ground for sharp social commentary, wrapped in the suspenseful trappings of science fiction thriller. As much as some may hope for overt nods to past triumphs or meta-references, viewers should expect subtler winks and original storytelling.

A Standalone Vision Amid Franchise Fatigue

Why not connect the dots across franchises? Gilligan’s choice signals something refreshingly different in today’s content landscape. Several factors explain this decision:

• The creative exhaustion surrounding multiverses and shared universes.
• A desire to maintain strong narrative identity and independence.
• The intention to avoid predictability or recycled formulas.

By resisting prevailing trends in interconnected storytelling, Gilligan is staking out new territory—one where each episode can stand on its own merits. That very independence may prove to be Pluribus’ greatest strength—and what makes it one of the most anticipated releases on Apple TV’s horizon.