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Initially, Vince Gilligan envisioned “Breaking Bad” unfolding in Riverside, California. However, he opted for Albuquerque, New Mexico, drawn by the state’s enticing tax incentives for film and television production. This decision laid the groundwork for continuity when the prequel series “Better Call Saul” also chose Albuquerque as its backdrop.
Gilligan’s latest endeavor, “Pluribus,” finds him once again gravitating towards this desert locale nestled against the Sandia Mountains. After overseeing 125 episodes, webisodes, and a feature film within the “Breaking Bad” universe in Albuquerque, Gilligan had cultivated a network of skilled collaborators he trusted implicitly—from set decorators to lighting technicians, and even catering and transportation teams. During an episode of The Ringer’s The Watch podcast, co-host Chris Ryan inquired if Albuquerque felt like Gilligan’s “home turf” now.
Gilligan confessed, “I do love New Mexico. I love Albuquerque, the desert, and the surroundings.” While “Pluribus” could have unfolded in any mid-sized American city, the presence of his reliable production team in New Mexico’s largest city made it the obvious choice. “We have a wonderful crew there that feels to me like family,” he shared. “And I wanted to keep working with them. It was as simple as that.” This decision certainly contributed to making “Pluribus” a much-anticipated project.
Continuing his conversation on The Watch, Gilligan expressed a strong desire to keep collaborating with his seasoned crew. “They’re some of the best people I’ve ever worked with,” he remarked, adding that he wanted to do his part to keep them employed while also selfishly enjoying working with them. He highlighted the contributions of location manager Christian Diaz de Bedoya, who fans of “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul” might recognize. Diaz de Bedoya had previously showcased his talent in projects like “Poker Face” and “Pulse” before rejoining Gilligan’s Albuquerque team for “Pluribus.”
Gilligan praised Diaz de Bedoya’s ability to uncover remarkable locations for each episode. While the Sandia Mountains provide a consistent scenic backdrop across Gilligan’s works, he hinted that viewers should keep an eye out for other notable Albuquerque landmarks as “Pluribus” unfolds.
Pluribus has been renewed for a second season
“I wanted to keep working with my same old crew,” Vince Gilligan continued to tell The Watch. “They’re some of the best people I’ve ever worked with … and I wanted to do my part to keep them working and I wanted to continue — selfishly — to work with them.” He noted that fans of “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul” already appreciate the work of location manager Christian Diaz de Bedoya, who also served in that capacity on “Poker Face” and “Pulse” before rejoining Gilligan’s Albuquerque posse for “Pluribus.”
“He and his scouts find us amazing places every episode,” Gilligan noted. The Sandia Mountains are an obvious scenic through-point connecting Gilligan’s projects, but Gilligan indicated that fans should keep on the lookout for other Albuquerque landmarks as “Pluribus” continues.
Apple TV has already renewed the series for a second season, while Gilligan says he felt the need to bring a fresh story to his Albuquerque universe. “We live in a world of IP, where the safest thing to do is reboot something that has an audience,” he told Variety. “I wanted to prove to myself I wasn’t a one-trick pony. It’s harder than it’s ever been to get something made that’s not based on a previous movie or comic book or video game. Every generation deserves its own stories, instead of just the stories of their grandparents.” That’s definitely a sentiment that echoes in the show itself, down to important lines that highlight what the show is really about: human originality.
