[New Look] Rhea Seehorn Takes Center Stage in Gilligan’s Sci-Fi Drama Pluribus

Vince Gilligan, the creator of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, is back with a new Apple TV+ series called Pluribus (stylized as PLUR1BUS).

The show reunites Gilligan with Rhea Seehorn, who previously starred as Kim Wexler in Better Call Saul. Apple has ordered two seasons, with the first set to premiere on November 7, starting with two episodes and new installments every Friday through December 26.

Pluribus is a science fiction drama set in Albuquerque. Seehorn plays Carol Sturka, a successful author of historical romance novels, though she refers to her own books as “mindless crap.” During a book tour, a strange virus spreads across the city.

Unlike everyone else, who becomes permanently happy and content, Carol is immune. She struggles to navigate this altered reality, feeling confusion, anger, and frustration while searching for answers.

Gilligan told Entertainment Weekly, “The drama of the show is that the world’s most miserable person is desperately trying to save the planet from happiness.”

He added that the series also has humor, describing Carol as a “reluctant hero” who doesn’t want the responsibility but feels it is her duty. On why Carol is immune, Gilligan admitted he doesn’t have a definitive explanation. “I just figured there’s always gotta be a one-in-a-billion person. And it’s Carol,” he said.

The concept for the show had been on Gilligan’s mind for years. While working on Better Call Saul, he imagined a world where everyone is endlessly kind and helpful. “There was no way you could insult them. There was no way you could hurt their feelings. But they would do anything and everything for you,” he explained.

Joining Seehorn in the main cast are Karolina Wydra as Zosia and Carlos Manuel Vesga as Manusos. Miriam Shor and Samba Schutte appear as guest stars. Production began in Albuquerque in February 2024 under the working title Wycaro 339 and wrapped in September 2024.

The series title Pluribus was officially announced in July 2025. The first season faced some delays due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, but the team resumed work in October 2023 to complete the remaining episodes.

Gilligan serves as showrunner and executive producer. He developed the series with Sony Pictures Television before Apple TV+ secured the rights. The series will consist of nine episodes in its first season and promises a mix of drama, comedy, and science fiction, blending Gilligan’s signature storytelling style with a new, genre-bending concept.

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