Vince Gilligan, creator of Breaking Bad, revealed his first idea for Pluribus, which he initially thought would tell the story of how a man would transform into Scarface. Gilligan revealed that he found a notebook containing the first conception for the show and later pitched it to Sony Pictures Television, but a top executive, no longer with the company, told him that it was "the single worst idea I've ever heard" during a panel at the South by Southwest Film & TV Festival. He also discussed his decision to not keep score in his head about who suggested the best idea wins, and how he chooses to work with a writers’ room over who else's idea. Gillig also commented on the controversy surrounding the character Carol on Plurbus, arguing that her character is complex and difficult and challenging.