Vince Gilligan made a name for himself in the industry by giving us complex television projects like Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Now, he is all set to stun his fans with another television series called Pluribus. However, this time, it won’t be a crime thriller or something that we are already familiar with. Instead, the premise of the upcoming project hints at a more complicated story that will certainly bend our minds. Well, while fans are intrigued to see what’s in store, they also want to learn what ‘Pluribus’ actually means.
The Meaning of Pluribus Goes Very Deep
Pluribus is a Latin word that means ‘many.’ It originates from ‘E pluribus unum,’ which is a symbol of unity. The phrase represents a familiar motto where thirteen states united together to form a union republic nation. Its incorporation on the great seal of the United States was proposed by one of the members of the American Philosophical Society. However, despite their efforts, the motto remained unofficial for several years.
The thirteen states that the phrase ‘E Pluribus Unum’ represents are basically the ones standing against the rule of the Kingdom of Great Britain. They chose to stand strong and eventually secured a place in the national flag of the United States.
However, it seems Vince Gilligan had a different plan, and that is why he only took Pluribus out of the phrase. It clearly indicates that he has nothing to do with ‘one’; all the filmmaker wants is ‘many.’ Well, it would make more sense if you’re acquainted with the mysterious plot of the nine-episode series, Pluribus.
Why Did Vince Gilligan Settle for Pluribus?
In an interview, Gilligan mentioned that he conceived the story a decade ago when filming for Better Call Saul began. However, he didn’t know at that time that naming the television show would be the hardest thing he had ever done. Gilligan said that he and his writer would bring 100 names every day, but nothing could satisfy him. In fact, Pluribus was among the early names that came to him, but at that time, he rejected it. However, after two years, Pluribus seemed the name that he had been looking for.
He explained why Pluribus is the perfect name for the upcoming series, clarifying to everyone who was skeptical after discovering that he is more interested in ‘many’ instead of ‘one,’ from the phrase that represents unity.
“The show is not intended to be just American, I really want this to be a show for the whole world, and I liked the idea of out of many, one, in reference to the democracy of the United States, but also out of many people from all around the world, one.”
What Is Pluribus About?
Pluribus follows Carol Sturka, an author portrayed by Rhea Seehorn. She is the only person in the world where a virus has taken over and made the population content and optimistic. So, our lead lady is responsible for protecting the world from this forced sense of satisfaction, or, we can say, forced happiness.
Pluribus will premiere with the first two episodes on Apple TV on November 7, 2025. So, mark your calendars and get ready to watch another smart project from the Breaking Bad creator.
